Diotimos Library · Renaissance Collection · Bilingual Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.
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Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 8
Early New High German
p. 8Primum, MATERIAE cognitio; Secundum, Eius debita PRAEPARATIO; Das zwo fürnembste verborgenheiten jhres STEINS seind; Die erste / der wahren desselben MATERIAE Erkendtnus; Die andere / angedeuteter seiner Materiæ rechte Zubereitung.
Nun kan aber nichts zubereitet werden / man wisse dann zuuor / was für eine Materiam man zubereiten solle: Wann man dieselbe kennet vnd weiß / was für ein ding sie ist / als dann kan mans herbey bringen / vor die hand nemen / vnd damit vmbgehen.
Itzt schliesse ein jeder vernünfftiger Artista bey sich selbst / ob wenig oder viel daran gelegen / das man recht gründtlich vnd vnfeilbar wisse / vnd nicht nur wehne / was LAPIDES* Philosophorum Catholici Materia Ca-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 8Primum, MATERIAE cognitio; Secundum, Eius debita PRAEPARATIO — which are the two foremost hidden things of their STONE: the first, the recognition of its true MATERIA; the other, the right preparation of that same intimated Materia.
Now nothing whatever can be prepared unless one first knows what kind of Materia one is to prepare. When one knows that same and knows what kind of thing it is, then one can fetch it, take it in hand, and deal with it.
Let every rational Artista now conclude with himself whether little or much depends upon knowing rightly, fundamentally and unfailingly — and not merely supposing — what LAPIDIS Philosophorum Catholici Materia Ca-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 8
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum argues that alchemy has one universal subject, that this subject cannot be extracted from the metals, and that nothing in the work can begin without recognizing it. This complete reader begins with the supplied seven-part introduction and orientation, then presents every printed page of the 1599 German treatise opposite its new English translation.
Historical Text and Translation
The German reading text is a fresh diplomatic transcription from 600 dpi images of the Magdeburg copy printed by Johann Bötcher in 1599. It preserves Khunrath’s capitalization, word division, authorial marginal keys, glosses, errata, and three unnumbered closing pages: the errata leaf, owl emblem, and colophon.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared the new English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, collation, and editorial apparatus. The translation follows Khunrath directly, retaining his technical vocabulary, changes of register, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and distinctions between German, Latin, and coined terms.
Rights
Heinrich Khunrath’s 1599 German work is in the public domain. The 2026 English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, editorial arrangement, and related matter are original to this edition and remain © 2026 Diotimos.