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Last updated 23/12/2023

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The Three Scrolls
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the history of The Three Scrolls magical effect. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

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1584

There is mention of the Three Scrolls magical effect in 'Magiae Naturalis' by Giambattista della Porta (1535-1615), the first four books of which were published in Latin in Naples in 1558 and which was gradually expanded to twenty books by 1584. I am not convinced that the reference in Aristotle's 'Problemata' can bear the interpretation the author puts on it here.

(From Chapter VIII of Book 20 - Of The Chaos)

The Latin heading says, 'The card will remain untouched.'

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1636

'Deliciae physico mathematicae oder mathematische und philosophische Erquickstunden' by Daniel Schwenter, which was published in Nürnberg in 1636 contained an explanation of a similar effect.

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1658

An English translation of 'Magiae Naturalis', under the title of 'Natural Magick', and giving the author's name as John Baptista Porta, was published in London in 1658 translates the Latin cited above as:

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The effect also occurs:

1666

In 'Joco-seriorum naturae et artis, siue magiae naturalis centuriae tres' by Aspasius Caramuelius (a pseudonym of Gaspar Schott) was published in 1666.

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1702

In 'Neueröffnete Raritäten und Kunst-Kammer' by Simon Witgeest, which was published in Nurnberg in 1702.

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1707

In 'Natürliches Zauber-Buch oder neuer Spiel-Platz der Kunste' by Simon Witgeest, which was published in 1707.

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1759

In columns 152/3 of 'Onomatologia curiosa artificiosa et magica oder ganz natürliches Zauber-lexicon', which was published in 1759.

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1839

In Book 2 of 'Neuer Wunder-Schauplatz der Kunste' by Johann Heinrich Moritz von Poppe, which was published in Stuttgart in 1839.

The Three Scrolls

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