Invisible writing (kitāba)

Ingredients

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

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Invisible writing (kitāba) techniques are found in Chapter 18. They include the use of organic juices such as '[Onion writing]' (Recipe 37), and mineral salts like '[Sal ammoniac writing]' (Recipe 38), '[Vitriol writing]' (Recipe 39), and '[Yemeni alum writing]' (Recipe 41). Some techniques involve physical application tricks like 'Black coal writing' (Recipe 35) or 'Night writing' (Recipe 36). A complex method involves 'Silver writing on coloured inks' (Recipe 40, p. 191).

Evidence

"Table 8.2 Invisible writing (kitāba)"

Remarks

These recipes belong to the category of 'Incredible Tricks' designed to 'dupe naïve bystanders' (p. 187). They represent a crossover between practical chemistry and illusions. The attestation table shows that Onion and Vitriol writing are highly consistent across the witnesses, while Yemeni alum writing is missing in witness L (p. 191).