Alchemical Sources in the Herzog August Library

This project aims to develop a central catalogue of the Herzog August Library´s medieval and early modern alchemical sources, which, as they are spread across  disciplines and thus shelf-marks, are often difficult to identify. The project will include digital copies of the books and an intensive indexing of their content.  A thesaurus of alchemical terms will be generated that will allow both searches in the Library’s  alchemical holdings and navigation within the literature itself (structural data). Illustrations contained in the alchemical sources will also be indexed.

With this project the Herzog August Library will be able to contribute to research on the history of alchemy, which long been a focus of the history of science and medicine but has also become an important aspect of cultural and religious studies.

The rich holdings of the Herzog August Library are continuously being augmented by antiquarian acquisitions purchased for the Collection of German imprints 1601-1700. Over the past years, 250 rare book with alchemical content have been added to holdings. This number reflects the importance of the German book market for the circulation and reception of alchemical knowledge during the 17^th century.

At present, alchemical imprints (15^th – 18^th century) are being systematically identified in the Library’s holdings and indexed by notations that allow them to be searched  in the Library’s online-catalogue.

Contact: Dr. Petra Feuerstein-Herz
Tel. +49(0)5331/808-324, Fax: +49(0)5331/808-170