gall nuts (العفص)
Iraq
13th Century
Source: Lucia Raggetti, "Ordinary Inks and Incredible Tricks in al-ʿIrāqī’s ʿUyūn al-ḥaqāʾiq," in Alchemy in the Making, 2021, pp. 154-200.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
gall nuts, water, good vitriol from Cyprus
Preparation Steps
Take gall nuts, crush them, and macerate them in water. Use this solution to write on a leaf; the writing initially fades (p. 172). To reveal the text, 'good vitriol from Cyprus' is ground, mixed with water, and the leaf is washed in it, causing the writing to appear black (p. 172).
Original Recipe Text
Take gall nuts, crush them, and macerate them in water. Use this solution to write on a leaf; the writing initially fades (p. 172). To reveal the text, 'good vitriol from Cyprus' is ground, mixed with water, and the leaf is washed in it, causing the writing to appear black (p. 172).
Evidence
"Then, take some good vitriol from Cyprus, grind it well, mix it with water and wash the leaf in it, and the writing will appear black. (p. 172)"
Remarks
This is a form of sympathetic or invisible ink trick, categorised under 'incredible tricks' in the manuscript. Parallel recipes exist in Ch. 18 of the Uyun al-haqaiq (p. 172).
Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
Philological analysis
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
ColorBlack
RegionIraq
Approx. Year1250
Source Information
AuthorLucia Raggetti, "Ordinary Inks and Incredible Tricks in al-ʿIrāqī’s ʿUyūn al-ḥaqāʾiq," in Alchemy in the Making, 2021, pp. 154-200.
CollectionUnknown
Language
N/A
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