[ALCHIMY] DIGBY, Knight Kenelm - Lot 32

[ALCHIMY] DIGBY, Knight Kenelm Discourse made in a famous assembly, by Knight Digby, Chancellor to the Queen of Great Britain, &c. Concerning the cure of playes by the Powder of Sympathy. Following: Dissertation on sympathy powder, translated from Latin by Sieur Papin, Docteur en médecine de la ville de Blois. By Sr Rault A Paris, chez Charles Osmont, 1681, in-12, full contemporary calf, ribbed spine, 250 pp. Corners dulled, leather loss at tail, marginal worm work on half of volume, reaching 4 letters on pp. 121 and 123. The author's interest in sympathy powder was the subject of an interesting study by Amadou: "... the eventful and studious life of the Chevalier Digby, who shared the dreams of the alchemists, sought for Venetia the secret of longevity... Such is the life of this philosopher, friend of Descartes, whom J.F. Helvetius did not disdain to refute". However, a very particular experience Helvetius underwent obviously led him to modify his judgment and approach to alchemy... Contains the dissertation on the same subject in part two. Second edition in this form. Gilbert Tappa's copy. His bookplate pasted to the front of the volume.