black coal, onion, sal ammoniac, vitriol, Yemeni alum

Ingredients

black coal, onion, sal ammoniac, vitriol, silver, Yemeni alum

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

As detailed in Table 8.2 (p. 191), invisible writing (kitāba) techniques include: 35. [Black coal writing]; 36. [Night writing]; 37. [Onion writing]; 38. [Sal ammoniac writing]; 39. [Vitriol writing]; 40. [Silver writing on coloured inks]; 41. [Yemeni alum writing]; 42. [Hair growth writing]. These are often combined with 'pious formulae' to achieve the intended deceptive or wondrous effect (p. 186).

Evidence

"Different procedures focused on the use of inscriptions on paper or papyrus, wax figurines and invisible inks; the purpose is achieved also thanks to the recitation of pious formulae. Written names can be used, for instance to get known thieves out of hiding, invisible inks and wondrous ways of writing."

Remarks

Chapter 18 of the ʿUyūn al-ḥaqāʾiq focuses on the 'deceptions of the astrologers'. Raggetti tracks these invisible writing recipes across seven manuscript witnesses, noting their frequent presence in manuscripts P, B, D, T, K, and L (p. 191).