Very rare second edition of this pharmaceutical and alchemical treatise in which potassium acetate was described for the first time. The work has been richly illustrated by numerous woodcuts and is divided into five books, which discuss: alchemical instruments; transmutation and the philosopher's stone; rare preparations, focusing in particular on those based on mercury, sulfur and arsenic; the distillates, balms and essences; and secret remedies and preparations to cure various diseases.
Philipp Müller (1585-1659) was a professor in Mathematics at Leipzig University, who published several books on mathematics and astronomy, especially on comets. The first edition of this treatise on chemical and medical issues was published in Freiburg in 1610. Apparently the work has had quite a success as there are at least eight editions published before 1659, sometimes under the title Miracula et mysteria chymico-medica.
With the armorial bookplate of Philip Henricus Boeckler at Strassbourg mounted on the front pastedown, and an ownership annotation by A. F. J. Vigueron, D. Med. underneath. The boards have been rubbed, with loss of material at the head of the spine and the top of the front board, the boards are somewhat water stained. The leaves are somewhat browned, an ink stain on the title page, a brown stain on page 71, small tears in the margins of some of the leaves, the lower outer corner of page 97 has been restored, with some loss of text. Otherwise in good condition. Brüning 1006; Cat. of books German-speaking countries 1601-1700, M 1558; Ferguson, Bibl. Chemica II, p. 115; Poggendorf II, c. 221; Rosenthal 609; VD17 23:297468T; cf. Duveen p. 416 (other eds.); Wellcome IV, p. 195 (other eds.).