Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[Barbrey]

When it comes to herbals, I see similarities between the so-called “Alchemical Herbals” presented by @MarcoP and the VMS.

Indeed.  

But, by the way, are there multiple independent "Alchemical Herbals", or just one original text that got copied and mutated many times?  

The people who copied those books must have been aware that they were fictional hoaxes, and thus must have felt no scruples in adding their own fictional plants.   

Like that plant whose juice makes iron so strong that it will cut any other iron.  I wonder if there is a version of that book with another plant that will make iron so strong that it cannot be cut by any other iron...

All the best, --jorge

I just read Beasley’s article and it seems that there is an actual “tradition”in Northern Italy of these texts, whereby seven of the earliest seem to be directly based on a missing foundation text. The others are also probably indirectly related in turn though with unique features and content.

I’m not sure it matters in terms of the VMS though? Although I’m sure Beasley has already seen it, it might be worth directing him to the VMS for his opinion on whether it might, however tangentially, fit into this tradition, considering he’s already examined so many of the texts and plants.