Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus

Overview

Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus is a book of distillation written in the German language by Hieronymus Brunschwig. It is additionally named Kleine Destillierbuch and was published on May 8, 1500. It is the first book written in the German language on the topic of distillation, making it very influential among early modern scholars. The book currently resides in the University of Pennsylvania’s Kislak Center for Special Collections after it was donated as a part of the Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Collection.

Historical Context

Johann Grüninger

Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus was published by Johann Grüninger, a German printer who resided in Strasbourg. Grüninger lived from 1455–1533 and was one of the most prolific printers of Strasbourg. Many of Grüninger’s publications were Catholic, however he additionally printed works ranging from humanist to scientific texts. Johann Grüninger established himself in Strasbourg during a period of great development in printing. In this period Strasbourg became a famous center for scientific studies and printing, additionally developing a reputation for the incredible woodcuts used in the printing.

Hieronymus Brunschwig

Hieronymus Brunschwig was a German surgeon, alchemist and botanist who lived from 1450-1512. Brunschwig established himself in Strasbourg, with his main work focusing on anatomy, the treatment of wounds, and pharmacy.

Brunschwig’s work includes the creation of the first printed surgical treatise in the German language, containing the earliest detailed description of gunshot wounds. This work, titled Cirurgia, became an important cultural–historical source for medicine and pharmacy. Due to its detailed illustrations, the book allowed for significant advancement in German surgery at the time.

His later works include the earliest German work on distillation techniques, titled Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus. This work had a major influence on medical chemistry and many subsequent publications were modeled after this work. Brunschwig’s work contains an extraordinary amount of technical detail, stressing the value of practical experience. His later works include more on distillation techniques, such as Liber de Arte Distillandi de Compositis, published in 1512.

Strasbourg

Occupation

The modern city of Strasbourg is located in France near the German border. Today, Strasbourg is seen as a symbol of Franco-German settlement and European integration.

Beginning in the 5th century, the city of Strasbourg was held by the Franks and governed by the Bishops of Strasbourg. After a power struggle between the city’s citizens and the bishops, Strasbourg became a free city within the Holy Roman Empire. The city of Strasbourg remained known as the The Free City of Strasbourg until the French Revolution (1789-1799) in which its status as a free city was revoked.

Throughout its history, Strasbourg has been governed by both France and Germany. In 1681, the city became French after it was seized by Louis XIV of France. The city later became German in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. At the end of World War I (1918), the city was reverted to France until it was seized by Germany in 1940 (during World War II). In November 1944, the city was liberated by the French and once again became a French city.

Printing Industry

The city holds a rich history with the development and use of printing technologies. One of the most notable occupants of the Strasbourg was Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the movable-type printing press. Gutenberg spent several years experimenting at Strasbourg in the 1430s-1440s.

Strasbourg’s output of printed works greatly expanded around 1500 and the early 16th century. Printers in this region, such as Johann Grüninger, began to develop a reputation for Strasbourg, making the city known for its output of illustrated works. In the early 16th century, Germany produced more incunabula illustrated with woodcuts than anywhere else. This led to the development of the woodcut as a major art form.

Content

Written by Hieronymus Brunschwig, Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus was the first book to be written in German on the subject of distillation. It was additionally the first book published in the English vernacular on the subject of chemistry. Despite its Latin title, the book is written entirely in German and contains very detailed illustrations of stills (apparatus to distill liquid), plants and animals.

During the early modern period, distilled waters were used as medical remedies. Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus was a manual on how to distill these medicinal waters by combining technical instructions with traditional practices.

The book is split into three parts, each detailing a different aspect of distillation for medicinal treatment. The first section of the book details the methods and apparatus of distillation. This was mainly based on Brunschwig’s own observations and includes illustrations of the tools and methods needed. The second section is a compendium of plants whose products can be distilled. This section includes a discussion of these plants and their attributes, containing many illustrations that detail the appearance of these plants. The third section is an index of ailments, listing the distilled plant remedies for each. This final section references the plants described in the second section of the book, describing the ailment each plant may be used to treat.

Circulation and Provenance

Circulation

Following its initial publication, Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus was extremely successful commercially. The book was published in 16 different editions from 1500 to 1568, and was additionally found in reprints of Medicinarius, one of Hieronymus Brunschwig’s later works, starting from 1505.

Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus was one of the first books on the natural sciences, and specifically chemistry, that was translated into English. The book was ultimately translated into three different languages following its initial publication in German. In 1517 the book was translated into Dutch by Thomas van der Noot in Brussels, in 1527 it was translated into English by Lawrence Andrew in London, and in 1559 it was translated into Czech by Jan Günther in Olmütz.

Provenance

Liber de Arte Distillandi de Simplicibus is currently a part of Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Collection at the University of Pennsylvania. The Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Collection is a collection of early and modern texts on chemistry, alchemy, early medicine and pharmacology, dyeing, metallurgy, mineralogy, and pyrotechnics. It also contains works on the biographies of chemists, the chemical industry, and the history of chemical education.

The collection was formed by Edgar Fahs Smith (1854-1928), a professor of chemistry and provost of the University of Pennsylvania. Following his death, the collection was endowed by his widow and has continued to grow.