The first in the series of "The Betty Story" correspondence from Hans Nintzel was dated November 11, 1984. His summaries and additional correspondence from other practicing alchemists soon followed, with Hans acting as the communications facilitator. Hans called this "The Betty Story," named after the lady in California who brought the experiments to his attention. The documents detail an odd pulsating alcohol experiment that some alchemists called the non-violent destruction of the atom. This book contains transcripts of that written material. Everything pertinent to the experiments and...

Twelve Keys of Basil Valentine is one of the most important alchemical works available to modern students of Alchemy and early Chemistry. First published in Ein kurtz summarischer Tractat, von dem grossen Stein der Uralten... (Eisleben, 1599) without illustrations, it achieved wider distribution as part of the Tripus Aureus (Golden Tripod) compendium edited by Michael Maier and published at Frankfurt in 1618 by Lucas Jennis. Maier's illustrated edition of the work is by far the most influential. The emblematic engravings drew upon the allegorical descriptive imagery of the text and added...

The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony is the most famous work by Basilius Valentinus. The work has been translated into German, French, and English, and has done more to establish his reputation as a chemist than any other. This edition was selected by Hans W. Nintzel as the best available. It was first published in Amsterdam in 1671 with a commentary by Theodorus Kerckringius. In his preface Kerckringius states that he had actually spoken with Valentine besides studying his works.

Johann Rudolph Glauber (1604 - 1670) was a prominent Dutch-German alchemist and chemist, who has also been called one of the first chemical engineers. Christopher Packe translated the bulk of Glauber's works on Alchemy from High-Dutch into English. His translation was published in London in 1689. Hans Nintzel recognized the importance of this work and included it in the R.A.M.S. Library. "The Five Centuries" is but a small part of Glauber's works. The rest of Glauber's Alchemical works are also available in The R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy. This text was typed by Hans Nintzel and D. H., a...

"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. "His Secret Book" describes the entire process of preparing the Philosopher's Stone. Three separate operations are described: 1.Preparation of the Secret Fire, which is the solvent used in the Work; 2.Preparation of the mercury from antimony and iron; and 3.Preparation of the Stone itself. The operations are not presented in order, and as in many works...

Hermes Trismegistus, or thrice-greatest Hermes, may have been the author of a number of Alchemical texts. Some speculate that he was a mythical creation from a combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. The writings attributed to Hermes had a decisive effect on the Renaissance. Perhaps the most famous work attributed to Hermes is "The Emerald Tablet" that includes 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. Francis Barrett states in his book The Magus, "HERMES...

This volume contains the three works from the R.A.M.S. Library that are attributed to George Ripley: 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 (considered to be the first modern chemist), John Dee, and Isaac Newton. The Compound of Alchemy; or, the Twelve Gates leading to the Discovery of the Philosopher's Stone (Liber Duodecim Portarum) was published in 1591 (London: Thomas Orwin). It was one of...

Summa Perfectionis, "The Height of Perfection," is attributed to Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan (c. 721-815), who is most commonly known as Geber. This volume was selected by Hans Nintzel for inclusion in the R.A.M.S. Library due to numerous references to the text in major Alchemical works. Whatever the origin, this text has had a strong influence on the study of Alchemy for many centuries.