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In the original Lucca Manuscript 490 or Codex Lucensis 490 of the Feliniana Chapter Library of Lucca is a miscellaneous manuscript copied between 787 and 816 containing , among other things , the collection Compositiones ad tingenda musiva, pelles et alia, ad deaurandum ferrum, ad mineralia, ad chrysographiam, ad glutina quaedam conficienda, aliaque artium documenta, ante annos non gentos scripta (this is how the long title received, quite arbitrarily, by the first editor of the collection, Ludovico Antonio Muratori ), one of the oldest surviving Latin cookbooks . There are preserved miscellaneous recipes intended for didactic use, together with some ancient treatises such as the Ars numero of Pythagoras , a fragment of Pliny on the division of time and a method for calculating Easter . It is written in barbaric Latin rich in Greekisms (clear trace of the connection with similar recipe books from the Hellenistic period ). In the recipe book indicated above, there are procedures for the preparation of pigments, gold and silver inks, for coloring artificial stones and mosaic glass , for dyeing leather and fabrics, for gilding and for working metals and alloys. This work is made up of procedures arranged without order and are not the work of a single author, but numerous different sources come together, placing themselves in a precise technical-literary vein, with some recipes in direct relationship with those of the Leyden and Stockholm Papyrus, and correspondences also with Heraclius and the subsequent Mappae Clavicula . Unlike other cookbooks, it is a unique piece (only one copy exists, there are not even partial copies) and it is probably the second oldest text of the kind that has come down to us, after the Heraclius which is attributed to a few decades earlier (even if it is not an idea shared by all scholars ) .In this text you will discover many secrets of ancient craftsmanship and alchemical wonders in this captivating book. From the enigmatic art of chrysography to the mystical properties of rare stones, 'The Alchemist's Handbook' unlocks the mysterious world of medieval alchemy and its timeless allure. Each page reveals intriguing recipes, hidden techniques, and the wisdom of the ages, making this book a true treasure trove for scholars and curious minds alike. The author's meticulous research and vivid storytelling breathe life into ancient practices, offering readers a glimpse into the captivating realms of gilding, dyeing, and metallurgy.
