A decorative headpiece woodcut at the top of the page features several figures, including putti and possibly allegorical characters, entwined within elaborate scrolling foliage and floral motifs. In the middle of the page, a large woodcut decorative initial 'S' is set within a square frame filled with intricate floral and botanical patterns.

SUMMARY

OF THE IMPERIAL

PRIVILEGE. An "Imperial Privilege" was an early form of copyright granted by the Holy Roman Emperor, providing legal protection against the unauthorized copying or sale of a book within the Empire.

Sacred IMPERIAL MAJESTY'S original: "Sacræ CÆSAREÆ MAIESTATIS"; referring to the Holy Roman Emperor, likely Rudolf II, a known patron of the occult arts and alchemy. Privilege has provided a warning, that no engravers original: "Chalcographorum"; specifically those working in copper or brass., carvers, sculptors, printers, booksellers, or others exercising any trade in books, should presume to imitate, reprint, or cause to be reprinted elsewhere—or even to bring in, sell, or distribute, whether openly or secretly—the WORKS OF HEINRICH KHUNRATH OF LEIPZIG, Doctor of Medicine, whether written or illustrated, relating to Medicine, Chemistry, Kabbalah A form of Jewish mysticism that Khunrath integrated into a Christian worldview., and many other more secret matters, in both the Latin and German tongues, partly gathered from other sources and partly composed and discovered by himself; and among these indeed the AMPHITHEATER OF ETERNAL WISDOM, the only true one, Christian-Kabbalistic, Divine-Magical, and Physico-Chemical original: "Physico-Chymicum"; at this time, "chemistry" and "alchemy" were often used interchangeably to describe the study of natural substances and their transformations., thrice-one, Universal original: "Catholicon"; a term often used in alchemy to describe a universal medicine or solvent., etc. This protection lasts for a period of ten years, to be counted from the first day of each edition, within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire and the hereditary Kingdoms and Domains of His Majesty. It is forbidden to reproduce these in a similar or any other kind of typeface or form, whether in whole or in part, without the will and consent of the aforementioned Doctor Heinrich Khunrath or his heirs. If anyone, however, by doing otherwise, should attempt with any rash boldness to despise, neglect, or transgress this Imperial Privilege and prohibition, they shall be deprived not only of all those copies so wrongly reprinted and brought in (which indeed the aforementioned Heinrich Khunrath, or his heirs and their agents, may claim for themselves wherever they are discovered, either by their own authority—which we grant them in this regard—or with the help of the local magistrate)...