Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

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Individual “key words” were encoded in alchemical writings from the late Middle Ages. Here it is the word "Aqua".
Libelli et fragmenta librorum varia lat. et germ. de arte alchimiae (de coloribus, de artificiis) - BSB Clm 405, 14th and 15th century, folio 129r, [1]
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But there are also alchemical treatises in which entire pages are largely encrypted. Here is an example:
Cod. Pal. germ. 597, 'Cisioianus' ; collection of alchemical and medical recipes and treatises, East Bavaria, 1426, folio 5v [1]
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[1] Rec, Agnieszka, Ciphers and Secrecy Among the Alchemists: A Preliminary Report, 2014, Societas Magica Newsletter
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By the way, Agnieszka Rec is the new curator of early books and manuscripts at the Beinecke.