«The Mystery and Romantics of Alchemy and Pharmacology», a classic book by Charles Thompson, was published over a century ago. The book explores the origins of alchemy, its links to ancient Egyptian and Greek philosophy, and its evolution throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It also examines the role of alchemy in the development of modern chemistry and medicine.
The cover is inspired by the composite tautul sheets of alchemy. The graph uses the Philosopher’s Stone (Great Delania’s result). On the back of the cover, the symbols of three primary substances: salt, mercury and sulphur are used.
Format: 200×140 mm
The cover is a poster with a map of the Sphirot Tree (or the Tree of Life). On the four corners of the poster there are four symbols related to the four main elements: fire, earth, water, and air. The only unmarked «invisible» sphire is Daat, which is at the centre of the front of the cover.
Format: 571×480 mm
Poster display
The images on the Forzac and the Nachzac are illustrated by abstract compositions of the beginning and end of the Great Delania — Nigredo (black) and Rubedo (red)
The Schmutztituls replay the cover visually and compositely, each of them being part of the publication. The signs correspond to four basic elements: fire, land, water, air. They also relate to the four phases of the Great Business: Nigredo, Albedo. Citrinitas and Roubedo. Each schmutztitule quotes stages from different authors.
Schmuctitules 4 parts of the publication
Contents
Internal footnotes appear in italics