Adam McLean's well known course of instructions and exercises on the interpretation of alchemical symbolism now available in book form.This study course explores in detail the individual symbols that compose alchemical emblems and develops the ability to analyse and read them. The focus is entirely on European alchemy. A great deal of graphic material, nearly 200 colour illustrations of alchemical emblems, is contained in the twenty four lessons. The lessons include: How to recognise alchemical symbols - The geometry of alchemical emblems - Triangles, squares and circles in emblems - Symbols in opposition to one another - Resolution of opposites (Male/female) - Resolution of opposites ( snake) - Trees - An initial look at birds - Variations between different versions of emblems - Animals in the emblem space - The human figure - The Lion - The Dragon - Different types of emblems - Reading some emblems - The general alchemical process.It focuses entirely on European alchemy.

The Ripley Scroll is one of the most beautiful and important of alchemical manuscripts. It dates from the early 16th century. 21 examples have survived and the earliest is in Oxford. A late copy made in 1624 was recently sold (Dec 2000) in an auction at Sotheby's for £206,000 ($300,000). So it is an extremely valuable and rare work. The scroll is an English alchemical manuscript and is among the earliest alchemical works that incorporate allegorical imagery and text, it predates the well known 'Splendor solis' and 'Rosarium Philosophorum' illustrations. It has not yet been conclusively established that it was the work of George Ripley, but his name has always been associated with this scroll. In the first few months of 2002 I worked on making a facsimile of this famous work basing it upon three of the best known and earliest versions of the scroll. I redrew and coloured the images. Most of the surviving scrolls are in poor condition and the colouring has consequently faded, so making this facsimile provided the opportunity of recreating the scroll in its original vivid colours. I also have used my modern version of the text on the scroll. The original 15th/16th-century middle English verse is rather difficult for people inexperienced with this material to read.

"To All Ingeniously Elaborate Students, In the most Divine Mysteries of Hermetique Learning." Or so British politician and Freemason ELIAS ASHMOLE (1617-1692) dedicated this curious artifact of the esoteric and spiritual philosophy of alchemy. An avid collector of antiquaries and other oddities (they were, upon his death, bequeathed to Oxford University, which used them to found the Ashmolean Museum), Ashmole counted among his treasures volumes of metaphysical poems available only in private, and fiercely guarded, manuscripts. In 1652, though, he collected many of these writings in this hefty tome, annotated with his own comments. Included are: . "The Ordinall of Alchimy" by Thomas Norton . "The Compound of Alchymie" by Sir George Ripley . "Liber Patris Sapientiae" . "The Tale of the Chanons Yeoman" by Geoffry Chaucer . "The Worke of John Dastin" . "The Hunting of the Greene Lyon" by the Viccar of Malden . "Bloomsfields Blossoms: Or, The Campe of Philosophy" . "Sir Ed Kelley Concerning the Philosopher's Stone" . and much more. Once a resource for such natural philosophers as Isaac Newton, the Theatrum Chemicum Brittannicum remains an astonishing album of arcania.

In 1755 the most comprehensive listing of alchemical symbols was published at Ulm in Germany, the 'Medicinisch-chymisch- und alchemistisches Oraculum'. The book consists of a series of thirty four full page engravings of 1829 symbols with the names in Latin and German overprinted in letterpress. There are 359 entries with multiple graphic images associated with each entry. Some ten years ago Adam McLean placed these images onto his alchemy web site. A number of people then asked him to provide explanations for the obscure terms, but he was not immediately able to find the time to do this. At the end of 2013 he had the idea of issuing this in book form, and after a few months editorial work and research this has resulted in the present volume in the Hermetic Studies series.

This large format book was issued in connection with Adam McLean's exhibition at the Embassy Gallery during the Edinburgh Festival 2007. It provides an overview and survey of the symbolism, gathered under three headings - Alchemy of the Cosmos, Alchemy of the Soul and Alchemy of Matter. The book shows coloured versions by Adam McLean of many of the intriguing alchemical emblems, with descriptions and analysis of their place in the history of alchemical imagery. It thus provides a simple introduction to the use of emblematic imagery in alchemy. This book was beautifully designed by the Glasgow artist, Ronnie Heeps, who also curated the exhibition.Large format A4 paperback. 50 pages. 64 coloured images.

The present work contains a critical edition, translation, and study of the "Summa perfectionis" of Pseudo-Geber, the most influential of the many texts of medieval alchemy. The study addresses such questions as the author's identity, his corpuscular theory of matter, the influence of the "Summa," and its own sources.