BEGUIN (Jean): Les élémens de chymie de Maistre Jean Béguin, - Lot 3

BEGUIN (Jean): Les élémens de chymie de Maistre Jean Béguin, revus, expliquez et commentez par Jean Lucas de Roy, médecin Boleducois. Paris, Le Maistre, 1624. Small in-8 full contemporary vellum, 432 pp + table (paper a little browned). Illustrated with figures in the text. Jean Béguin was physician to Henri IV and chaplain to Louis XIII. This work is the first French edition of this text, which appeared in Latin under the title "Tyrocinium Chymicum". Among other things, he describes the synthesis of acetone, which he calls esprit ardent de Saturne and which he prepares by pyrolizing lead acetate (or Saturn salt). This work can be considered the first treatise on chemistry to be written in clear language, easily understood by the layman. It makes a definitive break with the hermetic practices of the alchemists. A good copy of this rare book.