Kleines Commando-Büchlein

From Theatrum Paracelsicum
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I. Basic information


Printing History, Manuscripts. Not printed. Two manuscripts known, both written in the 18th century.

Editions. Not edited by Huser or Sudhoff.

Relationship between different versions. Only one version known.

Structure, genre/form, perspective, style. Instructions for the preparation of magical parchments, written in the perspective of a father or teacher directly addressing the reader in the second person (“du,” “du mein Sohn”).

Relationship to other texts. The “Geister-Commando” published by Johann Scheible in Die Sage vom Faust (Das Kloster, vol. 5, Stuttgart 1847) is a different text not related to Paracelsus.

Authenticity, authorship. In a trial before the court of the Saxonian town of Pirna (1817–1820) over the accusation of treasure hunting, a manuscript called Klein Commando-Büchlein oder Deutlicher Unterricht Magiam zu erlangen und die Edle Kunst Alchÿmiam sammt der Kunst was confiscated. On the top of the title page is written “Philippi Theophrasti,” probably by a later hand.

 It is the same text as the Klain Commando Büchlein oder deutlich Anzaig und Erklerung der unschatzbaren großen und vollkommen Kunst aller Künste und Magnalien, das größte Geheimnüß der Natur und verborgen Magia […] gleichsam zu commandiren […] als ein heilig Testament hinterlassen an seinen Sun von Johann Fust, berühmten Artist zu Maintz MCCCCLIV, found among the Leipzig University Library magical manuscripts, where it is attributed to Johannes Faust rather than Paracelsus.

Time of writing. Further study required.

II. Sources


Manuscripts:

  • Dresden, Sächsisches Staatsarchiv: 10062 Amt Pirna, Nr. 2688; 66 pages
  • Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek: Cod. mag. 137; 15 fols. [not attributed to Paracelsus]

First printed: not printed

Further bibliographical references:

Bellingradt and Otto, Magical Manuscripts (2017), 60.