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 49
Early New High German
p. 49Pri - materiali Catholico, in ALgemeinem Erst - materialischen Stande) wie die Weldt - anfengliche / von GOTT aus NICHts zu erst erschaffene / vnnd mit der ALGEMEINEN NATVR (dem Allergeheimbsten verborgensten Geist oder Seele der Welt) CATHOLISCH animirte oder Geschligte MATERIA - PRIMA CATHOLICA jenes mahl ware: auch in einem weder Vegetabilischen / Animalischen / Mineralischen oder Metallischen / Sondern EIGENEM / mit Synopticè - Catholica Igneæ CATHOLICAE NATVRAE scintillula Ignea / das ist / kurtzbegrifflich - Catholischen fewerfüncklein der fewrigen ALGEMEINEN NATVR Catholisch animirtem CATHOLISCHEN ENTE oder WESEN / von GOTT selbst / durch die NATVR, dem Phi-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 49of the Catholic First Matter, in a UNIVERSAL First-material Condition) as the MATERIA PRIMA CATHOLICA was at that time — created at the beginning of the World by GOD out of NOTHING, and CATHOLICLY ensouled or Geschligte with the UNIVERSAL NATURE (that most secret and most hidden Spirit or Soul of the World): and ensouled Catholicly, moreover, in no Vegetable, Animal, Mineral or Metallic BEING or ESSENCE, but in its OWN, with a Synoptically-Catholic fiery little Spark of the FIERY CATHOLIC NATURE — that is, a comprehended-in-brief, Catholic little fire-spark of the fiery UNIVERSAL NATURE — set forth thus CATHOLICLY by GOD himself, through NATURE, to the Phi-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 49
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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.