Concordia aromatariorum Caesaragustanensium in qua continentur epithome omnium antidotorum usualium ad unguem [quodaiunt] nuper correcta ex foedere eorum dem Pharmacopolarum. Tractatus sinonomorum in quo voces quae in hoc volumine continentur obscure exponuntur ex autiribus non vulgriubus dessemptus. Cesaraugustae: Apud Steph. de Nagera. Anno 1553 quo Michael Sagaun, & Bernardinus Aznarez collegio Pharmacopeorum praepositi erant

[Spain], 1651. In contemporary vellum. Title lettered on spine in ink, faded. Text in Latin and Spanish (Introducion; Los Simples de Mesue). Title in architectural frame. The frame copied by a somewhat later hand on the opposite page with no text but completed with a figure and ornamental details on the top of the page. Written throughout by a neat hand in brown ink. Amended with several old, but somewhat later marginal notes in ink by another neat hand. Extra formulations written on the recto of the first leaf, and three more on the last leaf by a contemporary (probably the same) hand. Provenance: Pascual Savall's bookplate on inner front panel. The title written in pencil on the inner front panel in a later hand. A later sheet with bibliographical notes (Sanchez's Bibliografia Aragonesa) mounted on the second free endpaper. Front free endpaper somewhat worn. Due to the different quality of the paper, some quires are more tanned and foxed, and the ink ghosts stronger. Other stains (browning, water, ink) throughout. Few leaves unevenly trimmed at the edges or corners. P. 75 with closed tear at lower gutter and inner margin, not affecting the text. Overall in very good condition.. In contemporary vellum. Title lettered on spine in ink, faded. Text in Latin and Spanish (Introducion; Los Simples de Mesue). Title in architectural frame. ff. [2 (Sirup Regis Philippi; copy of title page; title page; blank)] pp. [7 (Ad lectorem; Divisio libri...; Carmina in laudem operis; Tractatus de po[n]derius[us] et mensuris; Carmina in quibus. Unique manuscript copy of an early, 16th-century Spanish pharmacopeia. Only the present manuscript and a sole printed copy are known of the work.

One of the first pharmacopoeias in the world, (only Florence and Barcelona were ahead), Concordia aromatariorum Caesaragustanensium, was printed in Zaragoza in 1553 by Stephen de Nagera (Esteban Godinez de Nájera) (Haebler, 1897).

Considered as a revised second edition of the Concordia aromatariorum ciuitatis Cesarauguste of 1546 (printed by Pedro Bernuz and Bartolomé de Nájera) however, the two works differ significantly in many major aspects. Besides the slightly different titles, and the different authors (1546: Jerónimo Assín Mayor with Bernardino Aznares; 1553: Miguel Sagaun with Bernardino Aznares), they own different structures, distinct contents, use different terms for various substances, and the latter edition contains revised price list. Unlike the earlier, the 1553 edition includes a chapter on simple aromatics written in Spanish verse after Mesue ([Declaracion de] Los simples de Mesué), and a 10-page treaty of synonyms (Tractatus Synonomorum), in which a significant number of words appear in translation to vulgar tongue, with references to classic works where they are cited, and what helped the apothecary to substitute certain products with others of the same pharmacological effect. (Francés Causapé 2001, p. 17) (Devaux Guy, 2010)

While the Concordia from 1546 describes 248 formulations the 1553 one almost doubles this number up to 447, and for the first time in pharmaceutical literature, classifies formulas containing opium as narcotics (stupefacentibus). (Blasco Nogués 2001, p. 7)

Both Concordias were written in Latin (except for the Introducion and the aforementioned chapter of the 1553 edition), and are based on the Galenic and Arabic traditions, the latter fundamentally on the works of Mesue (Yuhanna ibn Masawaih (ca. 777-857), but also on the medieval and Renaissance teachings mainly of the Schools of Salerno and Montpellier, and also of the French physician Guy de Chauliac, and the Italian surgeon Giovanni da Vigo. On the 1553 edition, the influence of the medical schools of Padua, Bologna, and Ferrara just as of the apothecary Giovanni Giacomo Manlio di Bosco could also be traced. (Devaux 2010) (Francés Causapé 2012)
Concordia aromatariorum Caesaragustanensium of 1553 was written by Miguel Sagaun, then President of the Colegio de Boticarios de Zaragoza (College of Apothecaries of Zaragoza), with Bernardino Aznares (who collaborated in the writing of the earlier edition), and based on the agreement reached by the members of the Collage how to prescribe and prepare the featured medications.

The printed book comprises a title page, a dedication to the readers (Ad lectorem) which explains the three main parts of the book, it is followed by a treatise on weights and measures (Tractatus de ponderibus & mensuris), an introduction in Spanish (Introducion), and the "declaration of the simples of Mesue" ([Declaracion de] Los simples de Mesué) a description of simple medical substances in Spanish verse in the genre of the Salerno School. After this, comes the first main part introduced in Ad lectorem on the antidotes (De Antidotis) divided into fifteen classes, the doses are indicated on the right and many synonyms are inserted to the left margin, occasionally explanatory notes are also added; a treaty of synonyms (Tractatus Synonomorum); the price list (Tarifa); and an Index. The only known copy of this edition is held at the Biblioteca de la Real Academia de Farmacia de Madrid.
Our manuscript follows essentially the text and layout characteristics of the printed version. In addition, it has six extra formulations that could not be found in the printed edition, of which two are merged into the text, Pulb[is] hiere sim. Galeni on. pp. 56-57, and Unguentu[m] pleureticu[m] Mesue Cap. de aqua cicerum on. p. 147, and four written on the first (Sirup Regis Philippi)) and the last leaves (Ung. Cometisse [...]; [unnamed]; Ung. Magistralis). There are several differences with the synonyms indicated on the left margins, some new added to the manuscript, and some were cancelled, just like the outdated price list (Tarifa). Apparently the closing Index here, unlike in the only known printed copy, is complete. The manuscript is dated on. p. 175. after Tractatus Synonymorum (1651), and contains additional marginal notes ink by a somewhat later neat hand.

This copy is mentioned in Dionisio Hidalgo's Boletín bibliográfico español under no. 936. (Hidalgo 1864) Hidalgo claims that the printed book must have been extremely rare already in the 17th century, which is the reason for the existence of this manuscript of 1651. At the end of the entry, Hidalgo refers to the present copy, from "Biblioteca de D. Pascual Savall, en Zaragoza", apparently Pascual Savall y Dronda, prosecutor (teniente fiscal) at the Zaragoza Court, (co)author of books on legal history of Aragon and Zaragoza, and an eminent collector of books and manuscripts.

Reference: Hidalgo 936; IB 17025 (No known surviving copy); Latassa CXCII; Sánchez 351; USTC 348583 (Lost Book)

Literature: Blasco Nogués, R. (2011) Pórtico a la Concordia de 1552. In: Concordia aromatariorum Caesaraugustanensium, MDLIII. Edición Facsímil. Zaragoza: Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Zaragoza; Devaux G. (2010) Les deux éditions de la Concordia de Saragosse. Francés Causapé (Maria del Carmen), Las Concordias de la Ciudad de Zaragoza, 2010. In: Revue d'histoire de la pharmacie, 97e année, N. 367, 2010. pp. 340-341; Retrieved January 10 2024 from http://www.persee.fr/doc/ pharm_0035-2349_2010_num_97_367_22216_t15_0340_0000_1; Francés Causapé, M. d. C. (2001) Prólogo. In: Concordia aromatariorum Caesaraugustanensium, MDLIII. Edición Facsímil. Zaragoza: Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Zaragoza; Francés Causapé, M. d. C. (2012) In: Aconteceres y siluetas de la farmacia aragonesa. Zaragoza: Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Zaragoza; Haebler, K. (1897) The Early Printers of Spain and Portugal (Illustrated Monographs. 4.). London: Bibliographical Society p. 43.; Hidalgo, D. (1864) Boletín bibliográfico español. Tomo V. Madrid: Las escuelas Pias. pp. 255-256; Latassa, F. (1798). Bibliotec.