Lémery - Farmacopea Universale - 1735

MEDICINE, CHEMISTRY, AND SECRETS OF THE BODY: LEMERY’S PHARMACEUTICAL ARTISTRY BETWEEN SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
This Venetian edition of 1735 of Nicolas Lémery’s Universal Pharmacopoeia represents one of the most influential texts in the history of modern pharmacology. The work, translated from French and adapted to the Italian context, stands as a systematic repertory of medicinal preparations, uniting theoretical knowledge and Galenic practice. The volume bears witness to the transitional moment between traditional medicine and experimental chemistry, offering a broad and practical vision of pharmaceutical art in the eighteenth century. Its European diffusion made it an indispensable tool for physicians and apothecaries.
MARKET VALUE
Copies of the Universal Pharmacopoeia in the early eighteenth‑century Venetian editions show a variable but stable market: complete copies in good condition typically range between 500 and 800 euros.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Frontispiece engraved with an allegorical vignette, text laid out in two columns. Presence of plates and tables (including a table of diseases). Loose copy, without binding, pages with folds, tears, normal browning and signs of moisture; irregular and worn margins. Some leaves missing. In ancient books with a multigenerational history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. 12nn; 538.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Universal Pharmacopoeia.
Venice, at the Hertz Press, 1735.
Niccolò Lémery.

CONTEXT
The Universal Pharmacopoeia by Lémery stands as one of the pillars of European pharmacology between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The work gathers recipes, preparations, and medical observations organized in a systematic form, integrating Galenic tradition with new chemical insights. The encyclopedic structure enables practical use: physicians and apothecaries find operational guidelines, dosages, and preparation methods. The text’s influence was immense, contributing to the standardization of pharmaceutical practices and the diffusion of a more scientific approach to medicine.

BIOGRAPHY
Nicolas Lémery (1645–1715), a French chemist and pharmacist, was a central figure in the development of modern chemistry. Author of the celebrated Cours de chymie, he helped make chemistry accessible and systematic, profoundly influencing European pharmacology and medicine.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The Universal Pharmacopoeia went through numerous editions and translations, signaling its wide dissemination. The Venetian editions attest to the Italian reception of the work and Venice’s role as a medical-scientific publishing center. The 1735 edition sits in a phase of consolidation of the text, already widely recognized and used.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
– Duveen, Bibliotheca chemica, II, pp. 361–365 (Lémery)
– Ferguson, Bibliotheca chemica, I, pp. 499–502
– Wellcome Library Catalogue, Lémery, Pharmacopée universelle, various editions
– ICCU / OPAC SBN: Venetian editions of the Universal Pharmacopoeia (1735)
– BnF, Catalogue général: Lémery, Pharmacopée universelle
– WorldCat, records relating to the eighteenth-century European editions of Lémery