Disquisition on the Celebrated Poetic Book Theuerdanck (1714) - Page 2

Duplicate original Latin: "Dubl.", likely an abbreviation for "Duplum," indicating this was a duplicate copy in a library collection.

Dinh. Literature G IV This is a library shelfmark or call number used to identify the book's location on a specific shelf.

Melchior Pfinzing Melchior Pfinzing (1481–1535) was a high-ranking German administrative cleric and poet, best known for his work on the "Theuerdank," an allegorical poem for Emperor Maximilian I.

E [Pfintzing]

HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY original Latin: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA." This refers to the esoteric tradition of alchemy and spiritual transformation based on the supposed writings of Hermes Trismegistus.

Library Identification and Emblem

This page features a circular emblem or bookplate pasted onto the paper. The emblem depicts a Pelican in her Piety—a mother pelican piercing her own breast to feed her young with her blood. In an alchemical context, this represents the stage of "reddening" (rubedo) and the ultimate sacrifice of the philosopher to achieve the Great WorkThe "Great Work" (Magnum Opus) is the alchemical process of creating the Philosopher's Stone.. The pelican sits atop a heraldic shield decorated with four rosettes. Around the border of the emblem are the words HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY.

The various inscriptions in pencil and ink—including the name of Melchior Pfinzing—suggest that later owners or librarians were attempting to categorize the manuscript's content or identify its author.