... Chymica vannus... and Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico - Translation and Commentary

The Latin treatise Reconditorium ac reclusorium ... CHYMICA VANNUS... for three quarters of anonymous Author (probably Thomas VaughanGrand Master of the Rose+Cross Order in the 17th century) published in 1666is a milestone in the history of hermetic research of the Lapis Philosophorumwhich captivates for the profound spirituality of the Rosicrucian teaching thewealth of mythological quotes and historical references and because of complexityof prose-poetic style. The last quarter of this work is a purely alchemictreatise: Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico written in German languageby Johan de Monte-Snyder and translated into Latin by the same authorof …Chymica vannus…: here the dance of the metals emerges metalswhich must be transmuted into gold through the seven hermetic operationsand the three colored stages of the Opera which lead to the completion of theGreat Opera. This translation from theItalian version into English language (supplemented by an Analytical Indexwith 323 mentions and by 872 explicative and critical personal comments asfootnotes) could be of some interest for lovers of hermetic issues also becauseit is enriched by reproductions of 15 engravings drawn by the Latin text.