alchemy: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

John Ferguson, Bibliotheca Chemica: A Catalogue of the Alchemical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Books in the Collection of the Late James Young of Kelly and Durris, 2nd ed., 2 vol. (1954), the most important bibliography of alchemy, carefully and copiously annotated; Alan Pritchard, Alchemy: A Bibliography of English-Language Writings (1980), a comprehensive work, valuable for its listing of secondary material; M. Berthelot and Ch.-Ém. Ruelle (eds.), Collection des anciens alchimistes grecs, 3 vol. (1887–88, reprinted 1967), the principal source for all studies of Hellenistic alchemy, although its accuracy has often been impugned; Titus Burckhardt, Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul (1967; originally published in German, 1960); C.A. Burland, The Arts of the Alchemists (1967), a valuable source for iconography; Mircea Eliade, The Forge and the Crucible, 2nd ed. (1978; originally published in French, 1956), a comparison of alchemy with the practices of the primitive metallurgist; Richard Russell (trans.), The Works of Geber (1678, reprinted 1928; originally published in Latin, 1545), the most famous and important medieval Latin work on alchemy; E.J. Holmyard, Alchemy (1957, reprinted 1968), a general history; C.G. Jung, Psychology and Alchemy, 2nd rev. ed. (1968, reprinted 1980; originally published in German, 2nd rev. ed., 1952), a classic psychological interpretation of alchemy; Jack Lindsay, The Origins of Alchemy in Graeco-Roman Egypt (1970), a popular work but with a detailed consideration of occult ideas; Robert P. Multhauf, The Origins of Chemistry (1967), a discussion of Greek, Arabic, and European alchemy, with an extensive bibliography; Praphulla Chandra Ray, A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century, A.D., 2 vol. (1902–09), a valuable study; Herbert Silberer, Problems of Mysticism and Its Symbolism (1917, reprinted 1971 as Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts; originally published in German, 1914), an early Freudian interpretation of alchemy; Nathan Sivin, Chinese Alchemy: Preliminary Studies (1968); H.E. Stapleton, “The Antiquity of Alchemy,” Ambix, 5(1 and 2):1–43 (October 1953), on the relationship between Greek and Arabic alchemy; F.S. Taylor, “A Survey of Greek Alchemy,” The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 50:109–139 (1930), an excellent English-language summary; Arthur Edward Waite, The Secret Tradition in Alchemy: Its Development and Records (1926, reprinted 1969), a spiritual interpretation; and Ambix (3 times per year), the journal of the Society for the History of Alchemy and Early Chemistry and the principal source of new historical research.

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Alchemy. Sep 13, 2024
Add new Web site: European Commission - Research and Innovation - Alchemy: much more than male-driven pseudoscience. Jun 20, 2024
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Alchemy. Dec 05, 2023
Add new Web site: Academia - The Transition from Alchemy to Chemistry. Apr 28, 2023
Add new Web site: University of Michigan Library Digital Collection - The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project - Journal of Western Society for French History - Alchemy. Feb 19, 2023
Add new Web site: Science History Institute - The Secrets of Alchemy. Sep 05, 2022
Add new Web site: University of Bristol School of Chemistry - A Brief History of Alchemy. May 02, 2022
Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Alchemy. May 02, 2022
Top Questions updated. May 26, 2021
Corrected display issue. Mar 02, 2021
Corrected display issue. Mar 06, 2019
Add new Web site: LiveScience - What is Alchemy? Feb 26, 2019
Media added. Jun 10, 2016
Media added. Apr 14, 2016
Changed name to "the Netherlands" from "The Netherlands." Jun 08, 2010
Media added. Jan 28, 2009
Added new Web site: Catholic Encyclopedia - Alchemy. Dec 14, 2007
Added new Web site: The Mystica - Alchemy. Dec 13, 2007
Added new Web site: Engines of Our Ingenuity - Alchemy. Dec 13, 2007
Added new Web site: Crystalinks - Alchemy. Dec 13, 2007
Added new Web site: The Skeptic,s Dictionary - Alchemy. Feb 28, 2007
Article revised. Sep 15, 2000
Article added to new online database. Jul 26, 1999
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