Summum naturae mysterium
Brief an einen Jünger
Printing History, Manuscripts. Not printed. One manuscript.
Editions. Not edited by Huser or Sudhoff.
Relationship between different versions. Only one known version.
Structure, genre/form, perspective, style. Written in the form of a letter, directly addressing the “beloved follower and god-fearing disciple” (no name given).
Relationship to other texts. Refers to the Turba Philosophorum and Rosarium and cites De tinctura physicorum (§ 4.30) and Apocalypsis (§ 4.1). The title may refer to a volume edited by Gerhard Dorn, De summis Naturae Mysterijs Libri tres (Basel: Pietro Perna, 1570; Sudhoff, Bibliographia Paracelsica, 209–211 n° 125), containing Latin translations of De spiritibus planetarum (§ 4.29), De occulta philosophia (§ 5.7) and Archidoxis magica (§ 5.1). – A text in Wien, Schottenstift: Cod. 722 (olim Hübl 539) has a similar title: Summum mysterium naturae philosophiae. Further study required. – Karl Widemann lists the following text in one of his catalogues: “Secreta operationes duodecim signorum caelestium quoad medicinam, das ist Haimlichkaitten vnd natürliche Würckungen der Sigillen der zwölf Zaichen Zodiaci, das ist die Himmlische Artzenei und Wunder-Würckung der zwölf Zaichen des Thierkraises, dis Buech ist ain Auslegung des Bueches Theophrasti de summis naturae mysteriis von ime intituliertt, seu Commentariorum trium seu tractatuum medicinae caelestis, seu mysteriorum signorum zodiaci” (Widemann, Verzeichnisse (Kassel), n° IV, 28).
Authenticity, authorship.
Time of writing. Further study required.
Manuscripts:
- Kassel, Landesbibliothek: 4° Ms. chem. 31, f. 75r–80v
First printed: not printed
Further bibliographical references:
Broszinski, Manuscripta chemica in quarto (2011), 100.
