Volume 1. Twelve Keys of Basilius Valentinus is one of the most important alchemical works available to students of Alchemy and early Chemistry. This work is based upon Michael Maier's illustrated edition, which has been by far the most influential. The engravings draw upon the allegorical descriptive imagery of the text and add coherence to the symbolism.
Volume 2. Triumphal Chariot of Antimony by Basilius Valentinus. This is the most famous work by this author. The work has been translated into German, French, and English, and has done more to establish the author's reputation as a chemist than any other. It was first published in Amsterdam in 1671 with a commentary by Theodorus Kerckringius.
Volume 3. His Secret Book is attributed to Artephius, circa 1126, who was an Alchemist from Al-Andalus (the name given to Islamic Spain). Artephius was one of the most prominent Alchemists in the Middle Ages and the author of numerous works on Alchemy. The text includes the entire process of preparing the Philosopher's Stone.
Volume 4. The Golden Work. Hermes Trismegistus, or thrice-greatest Hermes, is the author of numerous Alchemical texts. His writings had a decisive effect on the Renaissance. Perhaps the most famous work attributed to Hermes is The Emerald Tablet, which is included in this book. It contains the passage:
"That that which is Above is like that which is Below and that which is Below is like that which is Above, to accomplish the Miracle of Unity."
Volume 5. Three Works of Ripley. This volume contains:
The Compound of Alchemy
The Marrow of Alchemy
Liber Secretissimus
Sir George Ripley (circa 1415 - 1490) was an English Alchemist, author and Augustine canon. His Alchemical writings were studied by many notable people, including Robert Boyle, John Dee, and Isaac Newton.
Volume 6. Four Works of Paracelsus. This volume contains the following texts:
The Aurora of the Philosophers
The Tincture of the Philosophers
The Treasure of Treasures
The Manual of the Stone of the Philosophers
Volume 7. Bacstrom's Notebooks Part 1. This collection is a small but important part of Dr. Bacstrom's alchemical library. Hand-copied from the original Bacstrom notebooks, the translated text contains commentary by Bacstrom and clarifications from Hans W. Nintzel and other sources. Most notable about the information herein is the cross-referencing that Dr. Bacstrom performs among various Alchemical authors and their works.
Volume 8. Bacstrom's Notebooks Part 2. This is a continuation from Volume 7. Among the works contained herein are:
The Tincture of Antimony by Paracelsus
Obtaining the Tincture: The Process of the American Adept
The Work with Wolfram
Of The Tincture of Antimony by Roger Bacon
Volume 9. Summa Perfectionis (The Sum of Perfection) has had a strong influence on the study of Alchemy for many centuries. This text was written over 1200 years ago, and it was selected by Hans Nintzel for inclusion in the R.A.M.S. Library due to numerous references to it in other major works on Alchemy.
Volume 10. The Five Centuries, or "Glauber's Wealthy Store-house of Treasures," comprise the five parts of Glauber's General Appendix, which he presents as an exposition on his other writings. The Five Centuries is an excellent introduction to the otherwise overwhelming amount of information contained in the Complete Works of Glauber. These five appendices are a cross-reference to all of his other works.
Volume 11. The Greater and Lesser Edifyer contains much of interest to the student of Alchemy, including innumerable cross-references to other Alchemical works, and practical plus allegorical instructions on the practice of the Art.
Volume 12. Chemical Secrets and Experiments. This Treatise contains Choice Collections of the Famous Sir Kenelm Digby, some whereof have been wrought by his own hands, some communicated to him by Learned Men of all Nations. I had the Honour for several years to wait upon Sir Kenelm, and to have several of his Manuscripts in my Custody. This choice manual contains rare and profitable Secrets in Philosophy and Chemistry, delivered with more perspicuity and plainness than is yet to be found in any Chemical Book.
Volume 13. The Turba Philosophorum, or Assembly of the Alchemical Philosophers, is attributed to Arisleus. It is one of the earliest Alchemical texts, believed to be from the 12th Century. The Turba Philosophorum was often quoted in later Alchemical texts. Also included in this volume: Revelation of the True Chemical Wisdom by Friederich Gualdus.
Volume 14. Das Aceton, or The Acetone, is an Alchemical text written by Dr. Christian August Becker in 1862. It was originally published in 1862, with a second edition in 1867. Das Aceton is perhaps the only Alchemical work largely devoted to the study of the Philosophical acetone. The chemical acetone is the organic compound. It is the simplest ketone; a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid. The chemical acetone is not the same as the Philosophical acetone.
This volume also includes Philosophia Maturata: Of the Stone of the Philosophers by St. Dunstan, written in the 10th century A.D.
2016 Best Seller Award! Volume 15. The Art of Distillation by John French (1616-1657), who was an English physician known for his contributions to chemistry (in particular, distillation) as well as for his English translations of Latin and German works. John French is chiefly remembered for publishing in 1651, The Art of Distillation, which is possibly the earliest detailed book on distillation. This edition includes more than 40 meticulously restored illustrations from the 1651 edition, and footnotes to help guide the student of Alchemy.
Volume 16. The Non-Violent Destruction of the Atom.The first in the series of "The Betty Story" correspondence from Hans Nintzel was dated November 11, 1984. His summaries and correspondence with other alchemists soon followed, with Hans acting as the communications facilitator. This is truly a chronicle of modern alchemists performing and analyzing alchemical processes. This second edition contains added documents that have never before been available to the public.
New! Volume 17. Philosophical Furnaces by Rudolph Glauber. In Philosophical Furnaces, Rudolph Glauber presents detailed plans for four furnaces, each designed for a different purpose. The primary process described is distillation. The text contains instructions for producing various medicines, and other products such as artificial gems, magnifying glasses, strong porcelain utensils, fertilizer, wine, vinegar, Potable Gold, and much more. Although a few key details may have been left out, they are said to be presented in Glauber’s other works. This book covers an incredibly wide range of early chemical experiments. Included are 6 pages of excellent engravings restored from the original printed work produced by Christopher Packe in 1689.
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New! Volume 18. The Last Will and Testament of Basilius Valentinus.
Basil Valentine’s Last Will and Testament contains countless explanations and clarifications of his earlier writings. From the preface, “[This is] the most principal, excellent, and plain of all his works; and I may justly say, of all the Books that are extant on this subject.”
Of particular interest are his explanations of The Twelve Keys of Basil Valentine, which has long perplexed researchers into the art of Alchemy. In this section, Basil says, "The things I do write of, I know experimentally to be true."
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Volume 19.
Volume 20.
Volume 21. Alchemical Symbols. Many of the included symbols appeared in the Last Will and Testament of Basilius Valentinus in the seventeenth century. That table has been augmented with symbols from other sources including the Alchemist's Handbook by Frater Albertus, Dom Antoine Joseph Pernety's The Great Art, Stanislas Klossowski de Rola's Alchemy: The Secret Art, items taken from the works of Agrippa and John Read, and other sources. This volume also includes A French Alchemical Romance and Adventure by Hans W. Nintzel.
Volume 22. The Book of Formulas. The author, John Hazelrigg (1860-1944), was an American astrologer. He co-founded the American Academy of Astrologians in 1916. Mr. Hazelrigg took an interest in alchemy and in particular the processes related in the writings of various alchemists of the past several centuries. This volume also includes Arcanum or The Grand Secret of Hermetic Philosophy, the work of a concealed author, translated by Jean Espagnet.
Volume 23. 18 Short Tracts. Hans Nintzel collected these small works together since each in itself is too short to require a dedicated book. Nevertheless, Hans considered them to hold valuable clues to the achievement of the Great Work in Alchemy. This Volume includes some of the writings of Raymond Lully, Eugeneous Philaletha, Lamspring, Louis Grassot, Count Trevisan, and many short manuscripts on Alchemical processes from the Sloane Manuscripts Collection of the British Museum.
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Volume 25.
Volume 26. The Mineral Work. Johan Isaac Hollandus (late sixteenth Century) is said to have been the two Isaacs Hollandus, father and son, Dutch adepts, who wrote De Triplici Ordinari Exiliris et Lapidis Theoria, Mineralia Opera Sue de Lapide Philosophico and other works on Alchemy. The details of their operations on metals may be the most explicit that have been given in writing, and may have been dismissed by some because of this very clarity.
Volume 27. The Vegetable Work. Johan Isaac Hollandus (late sixteenth Century) is said to have been the two Isaacs Hollandus, father and son, Dutch adepts, who wrote De Triplici Ordinari Exiliris et Lapidis Theoria, Mineralia Opera Sue de Lapide Philosophico and other works on Alchemy. This is one of the best and most easily understood books on the vegetable work.
Volume 28. Lamspring's Process, written in Germany in the 15th century or earlier, was known to many of the ancient alchemists including Basil Valentine and Paracelsus. The original included fifteen enigmatic illustrations, included as grayscale images. The color illustrations in this edition are from the Latin translation of Nicolaus Majus. That manuscript from 1607 is titled Lambsprinck's De lapide philosophico.
Volume 29. The Book of Abraham the Jew is from the British Museum printed book, 122 pages, 8905 A 15 in German "Donum Dei", Abraham the Jew, 87 pages bound with 9005 A 15. Abraham Eleazar was probably a fictitious name used by the author. It appears that the book was first published in Leipzig in 1760 with the title, "R. Abrahami Eleazaris Uraltes Chymisches Werk," although an edition from 1735 is said to exist. The author might have been Julius Gervasius of Schwarzburg.
Volume 30. Five Short Works of Glauber. The Consolation of Navigators, Tartar from Lees of Wine (also called The Work of Tartar), and Book of Fires were written by Johann Glauber in the 17th Century. They have been combined them into this one book because they are each very short. Also included are Glauber's A Short Book of Dialogues and Novum Lumen Chymicum. Christopher Packe provided the English translation from the High Dutch.
Volume 31. The Metamorphosis of the Planets. Snyder was an active Alchemist who practiced all over Europe. Written in the 17th century, this extended allegory by Johannes de Monte-Snyder is indeed a puzzle. It perplexed Sir Isaac Newton for many years, as documented in his notebooks. As an allegory it links together the spiritual side of alchemy with actual physical laboratory processes.
Volume 32. Four Works of Roger Bacon. Roger Bacon was an English Alchemist and Philosopher during the Middle Ages who insisted on conducting his own experiments and observing the results.
Radix Mundi
The Mirrour of Alchimy
The Oil of Antimony
Miracles of Art, Nature and Magick
Volume 33. The Golden Chain of Homer is indeed a masterpiece of alchemical literature. Written in down-to-earth language, one can begin to understand alchemical principles and thus unveil the mysteries that shroud the Holy Science of Alchemy. The footnotes alone form a compendium of data that is of enormous value. This is a massive 498 page tome of Alchemical knowledge!
Volume 34. Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored. Archibald Cockren was a practicing physician of the 20th century. Disenchanted with the medical treatments of his day, Dr. Cochren turned to the study of Alchemy. As shown in this book, he studied the works of many of the authors included in The R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy. The history of these great Alchemists is very informative.
Volume 35. Aurifontina Chymica. John Frederick Houpreght gathered these fourteen short works and published them in 1680. Original spellings and grammar have been preserved as far as possible. Notable authors include Raymond Lully, Bernard Trivisan, George Ripley, and Nicolas Flammell. The 14 works are listed on the Read more page.
Volume 36. The Golden Fleece. Salomon Trismosin was an adept and teacher of Paracelsus. He also wrote Splendor Solis, a well-known text with 22 color plates. Trismosin was born in Germany in the 15th century. His Golden Fleece was almost as popular as The Hieroglyphics and Testament of Nicolas Flamel. Descriptions of various enigmatic figures are included throughout Golden Fleece. Unfortunately, Hans Nintzel did not reproduce the illustrations themselves.
Volume 37. The Transmutation of Base Metals into Gold and Silver. David Beuther, Expert in the Practice of Alchemy for the Elector of Saxony Universal, presents a detailed account, in which the transmutation of base metals into gold and silver is explained clearly and precisely. This volume includes an Appendix containing unique alchemical copper-plate prints which reveal the Art from beginning to end and a Preface which documents Beuther's training and publications.
Volume 38. Sanguis Naturae. Christopher Grummet wrote this work in the late 17th century. It is subtitled, "Manifest Declaration of the Sanguine and Solar Concealed Liquor of Nature." There are a few footnotes in this volume that are attributed to "D.H." This Volume of The R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy also includes Universal and Particular Processes by John de Monte Snyder.
Volume 39. A Revelation of the Secret Spirit. According to Adam McLean's provisional list of 1179 authors of alchemical books published before 1800, Giovanni Battista Lambi wrote and published only one book on Alchemy. The beginning of this book notes that it was written by an anonymous author in Latin. This volume of The R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy also includes Trifertes Sagani by Cleidophorus Mystagogus. Finally, Aphorisms of Urbigerus is included.
Volume 40. The Holy Guide, Part 1. John Heydon (1629 - 1667 or 1670) was an English Rosicrucian, alchemist, and attorney. He published more than ten books during the last twelve years of his life. In this work is a chapter called "Chymical Dictionary," which contains a useful set of definitions of various terms used in Alchemy. That chapter includes much excellent advice for students of Alchemy. There is an interesting section on sounds and harmonies: "We have also Sound-houses, where we practise and demonstrate all sounds, and their Generation." (pg. 61).
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Volume 42.
Volume 43.
Volume 44. Potpourri of Alchemy Part 1. In assembling the R.A.M.S. materials, Hans Nintzel came across a good many pieces of information that are not large enough to be a "unit" or "book" in itself. Nonetheless, the data is of enough value to warrant its saving and publication. These data are often pieces of information vouchsafed to him. This collection represents personal instruction, data no longer obtainable, and those treatises that hold some promise for alchemical experimenters.
Volume 45. Potpourri of Alchemy Part 2. In assembling the R.A.M.S. materials, Hans Nintzel came across a good many pieces of information that are not large enough to be a "unit" or "book" in itself. Nonetheless, the data is of enough value to warrant its saving and publication. These data are often pieces of information vouchsafed to him. This collection represents personal instruction, data no longer obtainable, and those treatises that hold some promise for alchemical experimenters.
Volume 46.
Volume 47. Selected Chemical Universal and Particular Processes by Alexius von Ruesenstein. Oh happy child, discoverer of this book and of this treasure of philosophical secrets! Praise be to you. For you will become a wise artist. For this book will tell you everything that is hidden between heaven and earth in the treasure-house of the wise art. Because it is fitting that all books on our art should have a forward or explanation, I have added this foreword here, so that you will know what is hidden in this book. You should know that great universal works of various kinds are to be found in this book. You will discover nature itself.