Thesaurus thesaurorum

From Theatrum Paracelsicum
also:
Thesaurus alchimistarum


I. Basic information


Printing History, Manuscripts. First printed from different manuscripts in 1574, edited by Adam von Bodenstein and shortly thereafter by Michael Toxites. Four manuscripts.

Editions. Edited by Huser, 6 (1590): 396–401. Edited by Sudhoff in Paracelsus, Sämtliche Werke, I/14: 401–404.

Relationship between different versions. The motif of the ‘red lion’ connects the Thesaurus thesaurorum with De tinctura physicorum (§ ‎4.30), Brief an eine geistliche Person / Practica des verkehrten Mondes (§ ‎4.13) and Brief an einen Gönner und Freund (Vom Wunderstein) (§ ‎4.14).

Structure, genre/form, perspective, style.

Relationship to other texts. Toxites insisted on the close relationship between the Thesaurus, De tinctura physicorum (§ ‎4.30) and Manuale (§ ‎4.40), “for these three have in common one scopus by which Theophrastus created much good as it will show in due course.” For Toxites the Thesaurus is “nearly an explanation of De tinctura physicorum, and has the same focus,” which does not mean that the Thesaurus is a commentary on the De tinctura physicorum, but that they share the same ideas and arguments. – Sudhoff was inclined to ascribe De tinctura physicorum, the Thesaurus thesaurorum and the Liber vexationum (§ ‎4.39) to one single, unknown author. – Now it happens that the Thesaurus mentions De natura rerum (§ ‎2.2) along with the Archidoxis and refers to its own alchemical process as that of the Tinctura Alchimistarum. Whether this can lead to anything conclusive is still to be determined. – In any case, the Thesaurus and De tinctura physicorum share some topics, especially the doctrine of “red lion” and “white eagle” that can also be found in the Brief an eine geistliche Person / Practica des verkehrten Mondes (§ ‎4.13) and in the Brief an einen Gönner und Freund (Vom Wunderstein) (§ ‎4.14).

Authenticity, authorship.

Time of writing. Probably written in the 1560s.

II. Sources


Manuscripts:

  • Dresden, Sächsische Landesbibliothek: Mscr.Dresd.N.107, f. 157r–161v
  • Kassel, Landesbibliothek: 2° Ms. chem. 3, f. 184r
  • Kopenhagen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek: Thott 737 kvart [probably copied from the 1574 printed edition]
  • Leiden, Universiteitsbibliotheek: Voss. Chym. Q.17, f. 70v–74v
  • Leiden, Universiteitsbibliotheek: Voss. Chym. Q.21, f. 182v–183r [fragment]
  • München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek: cgm 4228
  • Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek: Cod. Guelf. 11 Aug. 2°, f. 16–17

First printed:

  • 1574 (in: Theophrasti Paracelsi schreiben von tribus Principiis aller Generaten, ed. Adam von Bodenstein (Basel: Samuel Apiarius for Pietro Perna, 1574); VD16 P 672; Sudhoff, Bibliographia Paracelsica, 257–260 n° 153)
  • 1574 (in: Archidoxa Philippi Theophrasti Bombast Paracelsi Magni Zehen Bücher, ed. Michael Toxites (Strasburg: Christian Müller, 1574); VD16 P 397; Sudhoff, Bibliographia Paracelsica, 268–272 n° 158)

Historical Manuscript Catalogues: Scripta Theophrasti (Wien); Thomasius (1699), on 141

III. Bibliography


Essential bibliography: Sudhoff, Bibliographia Paracelsica, 393; Sudhoff, Paracelsus-Handschriften, 774; Sudhoff, “Vorwort,” in Paracelsus, Sämtliche Werke, I/14: XVI; CP 1: 496; CP 2: 703; CP 3: 231.

Further bibliographical references:

Richard Weber, Philosophia Adepta. Eine Untersuchung der frühen Schriften Theophrasts von Hohenheim gen. Paracelsus, PhD thesis, Göttingen 1953, 172–179.

Richard Weber, “Der grüne Löwe,” Abhandlungen der Braunschweigischen Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft, 6 (1954), 288–302.

Peuckert, Pansophie (1956), 252, 253, 258, 259, 286, 287.

Boeren, Codices Vossiani Chymici (1975), 144, 152.