54835 Translated by Eirenaeus Orandus Heptangle Books, Gillette, 1980. Hardcover, 89pp., b&w illustrations and fold out illustration. Decorative red and black type on title page. Minimal wear. Near fine Nicholas Flammel acquired his skill in alchemy from a Jewish 'converso' on the road to Santiago de Compostela. In essence he was the most accomplished of the European alchemists and was believed to have successfully created the Philosphers' Stone and that he and his wife Perenelle achieved immortality through the 'Elixir of Life'. The book Livre des figures Hieroglypiques was initially published in Paris in 1613 and attributed to Flammel (the more cynical believed Flammel to have been an invention by 17th century editors and publishers desperate to produce modern printed editions of supposedly ancient alchemical treatises to an avid reading public). According to the introduction, Flammel had made it his life's work to understand the text of a mysterious 21 page book he had puchased. The introduction claims that, around 1378, he travelled to Spain for assistance with the translation of the text. On the way he met the Jewish sage and realised that the book was a copy of the original Book of Abraham the Mage. With this knowledge he was able to interpret and reproduce the alchemical recipes with successful results. $350.00AUD
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