Of the Great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers (The XII Keys)

The images below are facsimiles of the woodblock images engraved by Matthaeus Merian (1593–1650). From Tripus aureus as published in the collection Musaeum hermeticum, reformatum et amplificatum. Francofurti : Apud Hermannum à Sande, 1678. In Latin.

I have titled each picture appropriate to the subject addressed by each chapter explaining the XII Keys. Keys to the Kingdom of Alchemy is an in-depth exploration into the substances and processes encrypted in each Key and corresponding image. Together, they comprise Basil Valentine's recipe for confecting the "Great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers".

Key 1 - Grey Wolf and Lion King

Key 2 - Two Mercuries (Mercurius Duplicatus)

Key 3 - Coelestial Sulphur

Key 4 - Salt of Ashes

Key 5 - Spirit of Mercury

Key 6 - Chemical Wedding

Key 7 - Judged by Fire

Key 8 - Putrefaction of Adam

Key 9 - Planetary Colors

Key 10 - Water, Ashes and Sand

Key 11 - Noble Offspring

Key 12 - Fermented Tincture and Fixt Gold

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