Catalogue Entry: ALCH00095

Three sets of chemical notes.

Author: Isaac Newton

Metadata: Not yet dated, in Latin , c. 3,200 words, 18 pp. of which 4 blank.

Source: Ms. 421, The Babson College Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California, USA

Custodial History

Bought at the Sotheby sale by 'Robinson' (William H. Robinson Ltd., 16-17 Pall Mall, London SW1) for £13.10s. Robinson advised Keynes on 13 August 1936 that it was still in stock, but presumably he did not buy it. In 2006, following the closure of the Dibner Institute, the holdings of the Babson Collection were transferred on permanent loan to the Hungtington Library, San Marino, California.

Sotheby Lot

SL24

Contents

a) Notes on fermentation and the 'elements', with page references to a wide range of literature, 3 pp. On p. 3: fragment of a draft letter in English, without date or addressee.

b) Miscellaneous notes largely concerning the definition of alchemical terms and the uses to be made of various substances, 7 pp.

c) Notes on the sequence of operations in transmutation, including the headings 'Opus primum'; 'Opus tertium', 'Opus quartum' and 'Opus quintum' (cf. Keynes Mss. 40 and 41 and Dibner Institute Ms. NMAHRB 107A). Also features the beginning of a draft letter, in English, 'For M^r Proctor an Attorney' about succeeding his father in the management of Newton's affairs.