Ratio extrahendi ex omnibus metallis mercurium
Printing History, Manuscripts. First published by Huser in 1590 in Latin. Two German manuscripts, one Latin manuscript.
Editions. Edited by Huser, 6 (1590): 437–440 [Latin]. Edited by Sudhoff in Paracelsus, Sämtliche Werke, I/14: 433–435 [Latin].
Relationship between different versions. The Kassel manuscript (Latin) is very close to Huser’s Latin text, while the German manuscripts seem to be translated from Latin.
Structure, genre/form, perspective, style.
Relationship to other texts.
Authenticity, authorship. Text considered by Huser as clearly spurious.
Time of writing. Probably written in the 1560s or earlier.
Manuscripts:
German
- Praha, Národní knihovna: Osek 43, f. 156r–158r
- Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek: Cod. Guelf. 264.31 Extrav., on 284–285 [fragment]
Latin
- Kassel, Landesbibliothek: 4° Ms. chem. 54, f. 148r–151r
First printed: not printed before Huser (1590)
Essential bibliography: Sudhoff, Bibliographia Paracelsica, 394–395; Sudhoff, Paracelsus-Handschriften, 774; Sudhoff, “Vorwort,” in Paracelsus, Sämtliche Werke, I/14: XXV; CP 2: 247, 703.
Further bibliographical references:
Peuckert, Pansophie (1956), 252, 257.
Broszinski, Manuscripta chemica in quarto (2011), 184–185 [this text not mentioned].
