TILING, Mathias.

Cinnabaris Mineralis, seu, Minii naturalis Scrutinium Physico-Medico-Chymicum, ad normam & formam Sacri Romani Imperii Academiae Naturae Curiosorum directum.

> click here to see the full size image.

Title printed in red & black. 6 p.l., 250 pp. 8vo, attractive calf-backed speckled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Frankfurt am Main: J.G. Seyler, 1681. First edition of this “comprehensive treatise on mineral cinnabar or natural minium (mercuric sulphide, HgS). Tiling (or Tilling, 1634-1686), an iatrochemist and professor of medicine at the University of Rinteln, in forty chapters describes the locations where cinnabar is mined, its history, its physical and chemical properties, and its uses in pharmacy. He documents the work with references to Agricola, Aldrovandi, Dioscorides, Matthiolus, Pliny, Theophrastos, et al. Tiling states that cinnabar is composed of mercury and sulphur (p. 48) and discourses on its use in the preparation of medicines when mixed with ‘sanguis draconis’ (dragon’s blood), which is the gum resin secreted by fruits of East Indian palms. Cinnabar was used as a treatment for syphilis until the nineteenth century but is no longer employed owing to its significant toxicity.”–Neville, II, p. 556. Fine copy from the Solms ducal library at Lich. ❧ Partington, II, p. 319. Schuh, Mineralogy & Crystallography: A Biobibliography, 1469 to 1920, 4636–“rare.” Thorndike, VIII, p. 373. Waring, p. 497.

• USD 4,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: HillBibl-1515

• bookseller: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (USA)