Jacobi Weckeri - De Secretis [Alchimie] - 1750

Jacobus Wecker's *De secretis* resembles a veritable treasure trove of ancient knowledge. This 18th-century book gathers a whole world of "secrets"—recipes, tips, observations, and practices borrowed from medicine, alchemy, cosmetics, and traditional crafts. It embodies the inquisitive spirit of the era: a blend of nascent science, bold empiricism, and beliefs inherited from the Renaissance.

The book reads like an encyclopedic grimoire, where each chapter promises to unveil a hidden art, a surprising method, or a "marvelous" phenomenon. It offers advice on how to heal, beautify, preserve, create, or understand the natural world, much like the ancient practitioners who sought to unlock the mysteries of nature.

Blending erudition, folklore, and a desire to master invisible forces, De secretis embodies the spirit of an era when the boundary between science, magic, and technology was still fluid. It is a fascinating journey into human curiosity, more akin to a cabinet of curiosities than a modern scientific manual.

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Jacobus Wecker (or Johann Jacob Wecker) was a 16th-century physician and scholarly compiler from Basel.
He became known for his collections of "secrets," works blending medical recipes, natural observations, and artisanal knowledge. Wecker enjoyed compiling diverse knowledge to make it accessible to practitioners and the general public. His compilations reflect the inquisitive spirit of the Renaissance, where science, alchemy, and technology still coexisted. His influence endures through the numerous re-editions of his books, including De Secretis, published well into the 18th century.



WECKERI, Jacobi - De Secretis, libri XVII.

Basileae, 1750.

Complete in 1 strong volume in-8 [764pp. +index]
Illustrated with engravings in the text.

Contemporary full calf binding in good condition. Spine with raised bands, decorated with fleurons. Loss at the foot of the spine. Wear and minor losses to the corners and headcaps. Rubbing to the boards. Interior well preserved. Scattered browning. Engravings within the text.

A good copy of this uncommon work!