'The secret Algebraick key to Treasure, parallel to the Philosopher's Stone, invented by James Boevey esq. of Cheam in Surrey...'
'The secret Algebraick key to Treasure, parallel to the Philosopher's Stone, invented by James Boevey esq. of Cheam in Surrey. This book the Author presented to the Library in the 70th year of his Age.' A note (c. 1700) inserted at the end describes the volume, which consists of lists of numbers without text, perhaps relating to problems of currency, as 'Mr Boevey's mysterious Book given to the publick library as a great Treasure. He promised to send a Clavis to it, but is dead.'
On the inner back cover is a dedicatory autograph letter, undated, by the author, and a certificate in favour of the book by 'Cowemberg Van Blois of Amsterdam, Algebraical Accountant'.
Dates
- Creation: Written before 1692 by James Boevey
Extent
24 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Bodl. 947, fols. 1-2]
Shelfmark:
MS. Bodl. 947
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 18370
Abstract
'The secret Algebraick key to Treasure, parallel to the Philosopher's Stone, invented by James Boevey esq. of Cheam in Surrey...'
Biographical / Historical
James Boevey (1622–1696) was a merchant and philosopher.
Other Finding Aids
Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. II, no. 8712
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented to the Library by the author in 1692.
Bibliography
- There is a memoir of James Boevey, the economist, in The Perverse Widow by A. W. Crawley-Boevey (1898).
Physical Facet
On paper, binding, brown leather on boards, 17th-cent. English work
Dimensions
20 1/10 × 14 1/5 in.
Topical
Subject
- Title
- 'The secret Algebraick key to Treasure, parallel to the Philosopher's Stone, invented by James Boevey esq. of Cheam in Surrey...'
- Status
- Published
- Date
- EAD version 2020 by Alice Whichelow
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk