COCKREN, A. "Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored" [Health Research, 1963]

COCKREN, A. Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored.

Mokelumne Hill, California: Health Research, 1963 reprint. Plastic comb-bound in original green wrappers. Covers show staining and discoloration, heaviest along upper and fore-edge margins; chipping and wear at corners; binding intact and holding well. Text block toned with occasional light spotting; contents complete and legible. Contemporary bookseller stamp (“Mayflower Book Shop,” Ferndale, MI) to title page. Good+.

The work is divided into three parts that move from historical overview to practical application. The opening section traces the development of alchemy through key figures and traditions, including early European alchemists, Basil Valentine, Paracelsus, and the enduring legends surrounding Nicolas Flamel and the Comte de St. Germain. A second, more theoretical portion turns to core alchemical principles—the “seed of metals,” the nature of mercury, and the concept of quintessence both in matter and in daily life. The final section shifts toward application, presenting alchemical medicine, practical processes, and classic texts such as the Smaragdine Tables of Hermes Trismegistus and the Aureus tract, situating the work firmly within the tradition of esoteric manuals that bridge philosophy and operative practice.