Since, Basil Valentine, by Religious Vows am bound according to the Order of St. Benedict, and that requires another manner of Spirit of Holiness, then the common State of Mortals exercised in the prophane business of this World; I thought it my duty before all things, in the beginning of this little Book, to declare what is necessary to be known to the pious Spagyrist, inflamed with an ardent desire of this Art; as, what he ought to do, and whereunto to direct his aim, that he may lay such Foundations of the whole matter, as may be stable; lest his Building shaken with Winds, happen to fail,...

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.

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.- The text contains details of his actual experiments, both successes and failures,...