Isaac Newton and the Philosopher's Stone: Papers show how genius who discovered ... trends now
View
comments
A set of papers written by physicist Isaac Newton that point to his decades-long quest to produce the mythical Philosopher's stone are set to fetch more than £120,000 at auction.
The papers, which are written in Latin and have some English headings, are a distillation of the chemical processes contained within the writings of influential 17th-century alchemist Johann de Monte Snyders.
Snyders was renowned for his alleged skill with transmutation - turning lead into gold.
Although Newton, who died in 1727, is best known for his discovery of gravity, the physicist also had a lifelong obsession with alchemy.
The pursuit's practitioners sought to turn base metals into gold or silver and also discover a way of extending life - but their efforts were in vain.
The holy grail was the Philosopher's stone, a substance also known as the elixir of life which alchemists believed was essential to achieving their aims.
It was made more famous by JK Rowling's first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the subsequent 2001 film, which saw villain Voldemort try to obtain the object so he could restore himself to physical form.
A set of papers written by physicist Isaac Newton that point to his decades-long quest to produce the mythical Philosopher's stone are set to fetch more than £120,000 at auction
The paper being sold is called 'A Key to Snyders' is tipped to sell for up to $150,000 (£120,320) and will be offered at a Bonhams' sale in the US from April 28 to May 7.
According to William Newman, the leading authority on Newton's alchemy, the works of Snyders 'exercised more
