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Chemistry: Bibliographies of Books and Articles: Bibliographies

This guide lists history of chemistry and alchemy sources.

Primary Source Bibliographies

Bolton, H. C. (Henry Carrington) 1893-1904. Select Bibliography of Chemistry, 1492-1902. 4 v. (Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, v. 36, 39, 41(3), 44(5)) Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. Reprint, v. for 1492-1892, NY: Kraus, 1966.

Brock, W. H. (William Horton) 1993. The Norton History of Chemistry. NY: Norton, 744 pp. [Published in England as The Fontana History of Chemistry].

Appendix: History of Chemistry Museums and Collections, pp. 665-668. Bibliographical essay covering primary and secondary literature, pp. 674-714.

Cole, W. A. (William A.) 1988. Chemical Literature, 1700-1860: A Bibliography with Annotations, Detailed Descriptions, Comparisons, and Locations. London: Mansell, 582 pp.

Duveen, D. I. (Dennis I.) 1949. Bibliotheca Alchemica et Chemica: An Annotated Catalogue of Printed Books on Alchemy, Chemistry and Cognate Subjects in the Library of Denis I. Duveen. London: Weil, 669 pp. Reprint, To which is added Catalogue 62, H.P. Kraus, The Duveen Collection of Alchemy & Chemistry, Supplementing the Bibliotheca Alchemica and Chemica. Utrecht : HES, 1986. 98 pp.

Ferguson, J. (John) 1906. Bibliotheca Chemica: A Catalogue of the Alchemical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Books in the Collection of the Late James Young of Kelly and Durris. 2 v. Glasgow: James Maclehose & Sons. Reprints, London: Derek Verschoyle, 1954, 487 pp.; Hildesheim: Olms, 1974.

Ferguson, J. (John) 1959. Bibliographical Notes on Histories of Inventions and Books of Secrets. 2 v. London: Holland. Reprint, NY: Moxon, 1981. [Originally published in the Transactions of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, 1885-1915; recipes]

Fuchs, G. F. C. (Georg Friedrich Christian) 1806-1812. Repertorium der chemischen Literatur, von 494 vor Christi Geburt bis 1806, in chronologische Ordnung aufgestellt. 2 v. Jena: Leipzig : Gabler, 1806-11.

Hall, Manly P. (Manly Palmer) 1986. Alchemy: A Comprehensive Bibliography of the Manly P. Hall Collection of Books and Manuscripts, Including Related Material on Rosicrucianism and the Writings of Jacob Boehme. Los Angeles, CA: Philosophical Research Society, 314 pp.

Entries are annotated, some with biographical notes on the authors.

Hellyar, K. G. 1975. A Short-Title List of Chemistry Books Published During the 17th and 18th Centuries in the Rare Books Collections of the M. I. T. Libraries, with a Bibliographical Essay on Secondary Sources. Cambridge, MA: M.I.T., 30 lvs.

Linden, S. J., (Stanton J.) ed. 1987. William Cooper's A Catalogue of Chymicall Books, 1673-88: A Verified Edition. NY: Garland, 159 pp.

MacPhail, I. et al. 1968-1977. Alchemy and the Occult: A Catalogue of Books and Manuscripts from the Collection of Paul and Mary Mellon. 4 v. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. [V. 1-2, printed books; v. 3-4, manuscripts]

Moss, R. W., Jr. (Roger W.) 1965. The Morgan Collection in the History of Chemistry: A Checklist. Athens: Ohio University Library, 178 pp. Not at Harvard

Neu, J., ed. 1965. Chemical, Medical and Pharmaceutical Books Printed before 1800 (In the Collections of the University of Wisconsin). Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 280 pp.

Neville, R.G. 2006. The Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library : an annotated catalogue of printed books on alchemy, chemistry, chemical technology, and related subjects. 2 v. Philadelphia, PA: Chemical Heritage Foundation.

Pritchard, A. (Alan) 1980. Alchemy: A Bibliography of English-Language Writings. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul; Library Association, 439 pp.

Ron, M. (Mosha) 1981. Catalog of the Sidney M. Edelstein Collection of the History of Chemistry, Dyeing and Technology. Jerusalem: Jewish National and University Library, 182 pp.

Ron, M. (Mosha) 1991. Bibliotheca tinctoria : annotated catalog of the Sidney M. Edelstein Collection in the history of bleaching, dyeing, finishing, and spot removingJerusalem : Jewish National and University Library, 1991.

Solar Sáiz, A., ed. 1987- . Bibliographia chemica hispanica, 1482-1950. (Cuadernos valencianos de historia de la medicina y de la ciencia 31. Serie C, Repertorios bio-bibliograficos) Valencia: Instituto de Estudios Documentales e Historicos sobre la Ciencia, Universidad de Valencia; C.S.I.C. [V. 2: Libros y Folletos, 1801-1900 (1987)]

University of Glasgow Library. 1943-55. Catalogue of the Ferguson Collection of Books, Mainly relating to Alchemy, Chemistry, Witchcraft and Gypsies. 2 v. & suppl. Glasgow: James Maclehose.

Wehefritz, V. (Valentin) 1994. Bibliography on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, 17th to the 19th Century. 3 v. Munchen: K. G. Saur. 

West, C. J. and D. D. Berolzheimer. 1925. Bibliography of bibliographies on chemistry and chemical technology, 1900-1924. Bulletin of the National Research Council (U. S. National Academy of Sciences), no. 50 (v. 9, pt. 3), 308 pp.

First supplement, 1924-1928. Bulletin of the National Research Council. no. 71, 1929, 161 pp.

Second supplement. 1929-1931 Bulletin of the National Research Council. no. 86, 1932 150 pp.