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Cooper's Epitaph with first Alchemy Bibliography

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Title: The philosophical epitaph of W.C. Esquire. For a memento mori on his tomb-stone... Also, A brief of the golden calf (the worlds idol.)... With a catalogue of chymical books.
Author: Cooper, William
Description: [18], 16, [16], 41, [13], 37-56, [18], 78, [94] pp. With 6 copper-engraved plates. (8vo) 6¼x3¾, later diced calf, rebacked with more recent calf, morocco lettering piece. Important work of alchemical literature, the last portion being the first bibliography in English of English alchemical books. Originally published in 1673 and reissued here in 1675 (with the bibliography expanded). In the original 1673 issue, "A catalogue of chymical books" (caption title) began on P1r and ended on R4v with "The bookseller to the reader". In this reissue, quire * is inserted before leaf P1 and consists of a title page dated 1675 ("A catalogue of chymicall books. In three parts", *1r), a note from the author concerning the expanded version of his catalogue ("Bibliopola lectori", *2-4r), and errata for part 1 ("An advertisement", *4v). Parts 2 and 3 are added following leaf R4 and are signed A-G4. With ownership signature of Mary Atwood, anonymous author of "A suggestive inquiry into the hermetic mystery," 1850, making this a significant association copy. Armorial bookplate.
Heading: (Alchemy)
Place Published: London
Publisher Name: Printed by T.R. and N.T. for William Cooper
Date Published: 1673 [i.e. 1675]

Scuffing to covers; some soiling and aging within, margins trimmed close affecting date on title-page, very good overall.

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