Remarks Upon Alchemy and the Alchemists,; Indicating a Method of Discovering the True Nature of Hermetic Philosophy.

[E.A.H.] Hitchcock, Ethan Allen

Published by Crosby, Nichols, and Company, Boston, 1857

First printing (and apparently the only one until modern reprints), octavo size, 304 pp. The full title page includes, in addition to the above, the following: ".and showing that the search after The Philosopher's Stone had not for its object the discovery of an agent for the Transmutation of Metals. Being also an attempt to rescue from undeserved approbrium the reputation of a class of Extraordinary Thinkers in Past Ages." Ethan Allen Hitchcock (1798-1870) served in the military from his graduation in 1817 from the United States Military Academy through 1855, returning to serve during the Civil War in administrative capacities at the rank of major general. However, he had a lifelong interest in alchemy. "At the time of his death, he had amassed over 250 volumes on the subject of alchemy, which his nephew, Henry Hitchcock, a St. Louis attorney, presented to the Mercantile Library on July 17, 1884" (n.b., from the web site of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, University of Missouri - St Louis). He apparently achieved some fame within this field: the Alchemy Web Site says of him, "Throughout an active military career, General Hitchcock devoted himself to the study of philosophy, theology, mysticism, and, eventually, alchemy. Under the most adverse conditions imaginable, in the barracks or in his tent at some encampment, he studied the writings of the Far and Near East, of antiquity and the middle ages, of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries, insofar as they bore on questions of human existence or the nature of man. The result of his scholarly studies and meditations led him, eventually, to a radical interpretation of the subject of alchemy." While not one of the earliest publications on the subject of alchemy, this title is uncommon: as of this writing we see no copies online, and only two auction records (RBH) in the last 100 years (six entries total, dating back to 1899). ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full brown cloth over boards, blind-debossed borders and decorations on both boards and the spine, the spine also with gilt lettering, Ex-Libris on the front pastedown (no name) with a design relating to ancient Egyptian mythology, note that the author's name is not given on the title page, the Preface is signed "E.A.H."; binding octavo size (7 3/4" by 5 1/4"), pagination: [i-iii] iv-xv [1, blank] [17] 18-304. ___CONDITION: Overall very good; the boards mostly clean with a few small spots, the corners gently bumped but without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright (other than a few pages with light offsetting), and other than the Ex-Libris described above free of prior owner markings; light wear at the head and tail of the spine, wear to the top edge of the back board, offsetting to the endpapers, and a small spot on the fore-edge of the text block. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. Seller Inventory # 25070701

Bibliographic Details

Title: Remarks Upon Alchemy and the Alchemists,; ...
Publisher: Crosby, Nichols, and Company, Boston
Publication Date: 1857
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very good
Edition: First Edition.