A brief history of In de Pelikaan

The library's publishing house is named In de Pelikaan (In the Pelican), after the symbol which has been associated with the library since its foundation.

When the library began its activities as a public institute in 1984, a small publishing house was simultaneously set up to issue the catalogues accompanying the exhibitions organised by the library, as well as conference proceedings, text editions and special studies. In all, In de Pelikaan has brought out more than 30 works to date.

The library's publications range from fairly modest productions to more ambitious projects involving renowned Dutch printing houses and book designers, such as the late Charles Jongejans, who designed the first part of the BPH's incunable catalogue, which came out in 1990 (2 volumes, in a slipcase). The library's attention to careful book production was awarded in 2001, when From Poimandres to Jacob Böhme (2000) was selected by the jury of the Best Dutch Book Designs as one of that year's best-produced books. The jury report praised book designer Tessa van der Waals: 'this classically styled book has actually been given a real contemporary twist - yet without disturbing the balance.' Compliments also for printer Calff & Meischke in Amsterdam and bookbinder van Waarden in Zaandam: 'Printing and binding are first-class'. Book designer Chang Chi Lan-Ying designed Valentinus de gnosticus en zijn Evangelie der Waarheid, which was one of the Best Book Designs for 2003. This time the jury observed in a glowing report that the book was 'made according to the rules of the art' a scholarly edition is imbued with the quality of a literary text which is what the author of this (Gilles Quispel) book deserves'.

The publications of In de Pelikaan are arranged in three series:

Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica: scholarly publications based on primary source research and text editions
Asclepius: academically sound though highly accessible publications
Hermes: exhibition catalogues by BPH staff

Books in the Asclepius and Pimander series are distributed for In de Pelikaan by various large publishers: Brill, Frommann-Holzboog, Hauswedell Verlag, Hesselink/De Graaf Publishers, Rozekruis Pers. The exhibition catalogues published in the Hermes series can be ordered from the library.

For a survey of the library's publications: available publications


A survey of works published by or issued on behalf of In de Pelikaan from 1985 to the present:

1985
De klassieke erfenis der Rozenkruisers. (Dutch-language catalogue of an exhibition held in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica). vi, 31, [9] pp.

1986
F. van Lamoen, Abraham Willemsz van Beyerland. Jacob Böhme en het Nederlandse hermetisme in de 17e eeuw. (Dutch-language catalogue of an exhibition held in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica). 40 pp.

C. Gilly, Johann Valentin Andreae. Die Manifeste der Rosenkreuzerbruderschaft 1586-1986. (German-language catalogue of an exhibition held in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica).144 pp. (2nd ed. 1986).

F. van Lamoen, De Hermetische Gnosis. (Dutch-language catalogue of an exhibition held in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica). 88 pp. (2nd ed. 1990).

1987
Choix des sources de l'ésotérisme occidental. (French-language catalogue of an exhibition held at the Festival International de l'Esotérisme, Carcassonne). 38 pp.

1988
Das Erbe des Christian Rosenkreuz. Johann Valentin Andreae 1586-1986 und die Manifeste der Rosenkreuzerbruderschaft 1614-1616. (Conference proceedings of a conference on the Early Rosicrucians held in 1986). 228 pp.

H.M.E. de Jong, Les symboles spirituels de l'alchimie. (French-language catalogue of an exhibition held at the Festival International de l'Esotérisme, Carcassonne). 143 pp.

F. van Lamoen, The Hermetic gnosis. Catalogue of an exhibition at the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. 88 pp. (English translation of De Hermetische Gnosis).

J. Bruckner, Abraham von Franckenberg. A bibliographical catalogue with a short-list of his library. xix, 109 pp. (A shared edition with Harrassowitz publishers in Wiesbaden).

1989
F. Secret, Kabbale et philosophie hermétique. Exposition à l'occasion du Festival International de l'Esotérisme. 119 pp.

1990
Christ, Plato, Hermes Trismegistus. The Dawn of Printing. Catalogue of the incunabula in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 1). Comp. by M. Lane Ford, 2 vols.

Corpus Hermeticum. Ed. and transl. by R. van den Broek and G. Quispel. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 2). 206 pp.

F. van Lamoen, Hermes Trismegistus. Pater philosophorum. Tekstgeschiedenis van het Corpus Hermeticum. 152 pp. (2nd ed. 1990).

F. Secret, Kabbala en hermetische filosofie. Tentoonstelling in de Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. 147 pp. (Dutch translation of Kabbale et philosophie hermétique).

1991
F. van Lamoen, La gnose hermétique. Exposition à l'occasion du Festival International de l'Esotérisme. 87 pp. (French translation of De hermetische gnosis).

1992
Johannes Amos Comenius. Via lucis. De weg van het licht. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 3).Transl. by J.M. Schadd and R.M. Bouthoorn. 183 pp.

J. Bouman, Splendor solis. Een 16e-eeuwse alchemistische traditie verbeeld in 1992. 18 pp. (Dutch-language exhibition catalogue).

1993
C. Gilly, 500 Years of Gnosis in Europe. Exhibition of printed books and manuscripts from the gnostic tradition. 312 pp.

C. Gilly, Paracelsus in der Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. Ausstellung zum 500. Geburtsjahr des Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim, Paracelsus genannt. 85 pp.

1994
C. Gilly, Adam Haslmayr. Der erste Verkünder der Manifeste der Rosenkreuzer. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 5). 296 pp.

A. McLean, The silent language. The symbols of Hermetic philosophy. Catalogue of an exhibition held in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. 92 pp.

1995
C. Gilly, Cimelia Rhodostaurotica. Die Rosenkreuzer im Spiegel der zwischen 1610 und 1660 entstandenen Handschriften und Drucke. xii, 191 pp. (2nd rev. ed. 1995)

1996
Asclepius. De volkomen openbaring van Hermes Trismegistus. Ed. and transl. by G. Quispel. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 6). 306 pp.

J. Bouman and C. van Heertum, 'Niet voor geleerden': Handschriften in de volkstaal uit de hermetische traditie'. 15 pp., English version: 'Not for scholars'. Manuscripts in the vernacular from the hermetic tradition. 15 pp. (Exhibition catalogue).

1997
J. Bouman, C. van Heertum and F.A. Janssen, Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. J.R. Ritman Library. Catalogue published for the 1997 congress of the International Association of Bibliophiles. 70 pp.

1999
S. Gentile and C. Gilly, Marsilio Ficino e il ritorno di Ermete Trismegisto/Marsilio Ficino and the Return of Hermes Trismegistus. Florence, Centro Di, 1999. 326 pp. (2nd rev. ed. 2001)

2000
From Poimandres'to Jacob Böhme: Gnosis, Hermetism and the Christian Tradition. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 4). Eds. R. van den Broek and C. van Heertum. 432 pp.

2001
Rosenkreuz als europäisches Phänomen im 17. Jahrhundert. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 7). Eds. F. Niewöhner and C. Gilly. 406 pp. (Proceedings of a conference held in 1994).

2002
Magia, alchimia, scienza dal '400 al '700. L'influsso di Ermete Trismegisto/Magic, Alchemy and Science 15th-18th centuries. The influence of Hermes Trismegistus. Eds. C. Gilly and C. van Heertum. Florence: Centro Di, 2002. Vol. I (essays). 588 pp. Vol. II (catalogue, indices, bibliography). 334 pp.

2003
G. Quispel. Valentinus de gnosticus en zijn Evangelie der Waarheid. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 8). 147 pp.

2004
G. Quispel. Het Evangelie van Thomas. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 10). 380 pp.

Th. Harmsen. 'Drink from this fountain'. Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples, inspired humanist and dedicated editor. 64 pp

2005
De Keulse Mani-Codex. Transl., eds. J. van Oort and Gilles Quispel. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 11). 248 pp

C. van Heertum. Philosophia symbolica. Johann Reuchlin and the Kabbalah. 107 pp.

2006
A. Gadal. Le Triomphe de la Gnose universelle. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 12)

A. Gadal. Der Triumph der Universellen Gnosis. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 13) 232 pp.

A. Gadal. El Triunfo de la Gnosis Universal. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 14) 232 pp.

R. van den Broek. Hermes Trismegistus. Inleiding, Teksten, Commentaren. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 15) 366 pp.

2007
Jacob Böhmes Weg in die Welt. Zur Geschichte der Handschriftensammlung, Übersetzungen und Editionen von Abraham Willemszoon van Beyerland,
ed. Th. Harmsen (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 16). 450 pp.

2008
Libertas philosophandi. Spinoza als gids voor een vrije wereld, red. Cis van Heertum (Asclepiusreeks 1). 336 pp.

2009
Theodor Harmsen, Der magische Schriftsteller Gustav Meyrink, seine Freunde und sein Werk beleuchtet anhand eines Rundgangs durch die Meyrink-Sammlung der Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, Amsterdam, unter Verwendung weiterer Sammlungen. (Pimander. Texts and Studies published by the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica 17). 315 pp.