The Arcanum: The Extraordinary True Story

This beautiful first printing is in fine condition. The pages are clean, crisp, and unmarked, remaining tight and square in their binding. The green cloth boards are well-preserved, with gilt lettering along the spine. The dust jacket is unmarked and well-kept. The Arcanum recounts the gripping quest of European craftsmen, scientists, and alchemists to unlock the secret formula (arcanum) for true porcelain, a craft long guarded by China. At its center is Johann Friedrich Böttger, an alchemist whose search unexpectedly led him to a groundbreaking role in European porcelain production. The story unfolds largely in Meissen, Germany, where Böttger ultimately succeeded in creating Europe’s first true hard-paste porcelain, leading to the founding of the world-famous Meissen porcelain manufactory in 1710. Janet Gleeson is a British historian specializing in 18th-century Europe.