Vigani’s Cabinet | Queens' College

Vigani’s Cabinet, in Queens’ College, holds a remarkably well-preserved collection of Materia Medica assembled by John Francis Vigani, first Professor of Chemistry (1703–12) in the University of Cambridge. The cabinet was made in 1704, and the collection of nearly 700 samples of Materia Medica assembled 1704–5, all at the expense of Queens’ College. The collection today survives nearly untouched, and mostly in its original condition.

Vigani’s title of “professor”, awarded 1702/3 February 10^{[Grace Book Θ, p. 490]}, was a purely honorary one, with no specified duties and no stipend. He had been giving chemical teaching and demonstrations in Cambridge for around 20 years previously, some of them at Queens’ College. He is not known to have been a member of any college, or of the university. His income derived from charging his audiences.

In 1704, the cabinet cost £10, and the sub-set of specimens for which we have invoices cost £63 10s. 4½d. — in today’s values possibly over £10,000^{[2007 pp. 76–7]}. It is not fully understood why Queens’ College made such substantial purchases on behalf of a person who was not formally associated with the college. In that period, university financial transactions were normally overseen by the University Proctors. For the academic year 1703–4, one of the University Proctors was Poley Clopton, who was simultaneously Bursar of Queens’ College. It was Clopton (Fellow 1696–1725, died 1730) who handled the administration of the Vigani purchases. Clopton studied medicine, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine (or Physick) in 1705.

In 1707, Vigani moved his lectures to Trinity College, in the laboratory newly created by the Master, Richard Bentley:

John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, having resided in Cambridge and taught chemistry with reputation for about twenty years, received in the year 1702^[old-style] a strong mark of the approbation of the University, by being invested with the title of Professor of Chemistry. To serve the purposes of science, and promote the celebrity of his College, Dr. Bentley resolved to transplant him and his lectures into Trinity. Accordingly he repaired and fitted up an old lumber house as an elegant chemical laboratory; and here Vigani regularly delivered his courses of lectures for some years.
^{[The Life of Richard Bentley, by James Henry Monk, 2nd ed., 1833, Vol. 1, p. 204]}

However, the cabinet, having been paid for by Queens’, stayed behind. Around 1708/09 Vigani ceased teaching at Cambridge. He died February 1712/3 at Newark.

Henry James (President 1675–1717) left £40 by will towards the cost of the Materia Medica in the Lodge^{[Commemoration of Benefactors, late 18th C., p. 6]}. Poley Clopton also left £20 by will to the college^{[Suffolk Manorial Families, by Joseph James Muskett, 1894, Vol. 1, p. 141]}.

The best account of the collection and its documentation is given in [2007 Wagner, 852 pages].

The cabinet was constructed of oak, by John Austin, a local joiner. In the cabinet, the 26 upper drawers are all 15½ inches wide by 15 inches deep, of varying heights. The three lower drawers are 32½ inches wide by 17 inches deep, of varying heights. All drawers except the bottom one are subdivided into smaller compartments by wood dividers.

The Materia Medica collection:

**Drawer A: Gums and Resins**
30: Gum Tragacanth	29: Ammoniacum	28: Bdellium	27: Galbanum	26: Sandaracha	25: Gum Guaiaci
24: Gum Elemi	23: Pix Burgundica	22: Tacamahaca	21: Gum Copal	20: Scammonium	19: Styrax non calam.
18: Sagapenum	17: Benzoin	16: Arabicum	15: Opopanax	14: Cambogium	13: Olibanum
12: Styrax Calam.	11: Mastiche	10: Gum Hedeoma	9: Gum Carannae	8: Gum Lacca in Massis	7: Gum Lacca in Granis
6: Euphorbium	5: Gum Animi	4: Labdanum Verum Antiquorum	3: Labdanum	2: Gum Senica	1: G. Saviocolla

Drawer B is unused.

**Drawer C: Seeds**
35: Sem. Levistici	34: Sem. Cardui Benedicti	33: Sem. Sumach	32: Sem. Bardanae	31: Sem. Colocynthidos	30: Sem. Faeniculi Com.	29: Sem. Genistae
28: Sem. Milii Salis	27: Sem. Basilici	26: Sem. Angelicae	25: Sem. Coriandri	24: Sem. Petroselini vulg.	23: Sem. Bombycis	22: Sem. Alexandr.
21: Sem. Urticae	20: Sem. Cydoniorum	19: Sem. Portulacae	18: Sem. P?g???a Rom	17: Sem. Cochlearia	16: Sem. Carthami	15: Sem. Anethi
14: S. P???gi? nigr.	13: Sem. Lactuca	12: Sem. Hyoscyami	11: Sem. Cichorii	10: Sem. Apii	9: Sem. Santonicum	8: Sem. Anisi
7: Sem. Moschi	6: Semen Psyllii	5: Semen Ebuli	4: Sem. Cymini	3: Sem. Thlaspios	2: S. Saxifragiae	1: Sem. Cardamomi

**Drawer D: Seeds**
35: Sem. Illicium Anisatum?	34:	33: Sem. Colocynthus	32: ??	31: Sem. Cucurbit	30: Sem. Nasturtii	29: Sem. Cataputiae
28: Sem. Seselios	27: Sem. Papaveris alb.	26: Sem. Foenugraeci	25: Sem. Staphis agria	24: Sem. Faeniculi dulcis?	23: Sem. Plantaginis	22: Sem. Ammeos
21: Sem. Endiviae	20: Sem. Amomi	19: Sem. Dauci Com.	18: Sem. Pepon	17: Sem. Cucumeris	16: Sem. Cucurbitae	15: Sem. Melonum
14: Sem. Althaea	13: Sem. Agni Castrum	12: Sem. Petroselini maced.	11: Sem. Erucae	10: Sem. Dauci Cretici	9: Sem. Paeoniae	8: Sem. Cardamomi min.
7: Sem. Acetosae	6: Orange pips	5: Sem. Lini	4: Lupini	3: Sem. Sinapisi	2: Carum Carvi	1: Semen Rutae

**Drawer E: Minerals and Gums**
30: Cinnabaris factitia	29: Cinnabaris nativi alia Species	28: Cinnabaris nativi al. Species	27: Cinnabaris nativa Hungaricus	26: Cinnabaris nativum é Guinea	25: Cinnabaris nativa Persica
24: Cerussa	23: Minium	22: Sulphur nativum Lancashiense	21: Sulphur nativum Persicum	20: Sulphur	19: Praecipitatus
18: Arsenicum citrinum	17: Ambra Grisea	16: Succinum nigrum	15: Succinum album	14: Succinum flavum	13: Succinum citrinum
12: Arsenicum Album	11: ??	10: Talcum Venetum	9: Talcum commune	8: Amiantus	7: Alum. Roch.
6: Arsenicum Rubrum	5: ??	4: ??	3: Vitriolum Romanum	2: Vitriolum Viride	1: Vitriolum Album

**Drawer F: Stones and Pearls**
30: Magnes	29: Shark's Teeth	28: Selenites	27: Globuli Araneae grandioses	26: Margaritae occid.	25: Lap. Lyncis
24: Lap. Magnetis ar.	23: L. Contrayerva	22: Margaritae Orient.	21: L. Judaicus	20: L. Saphirus	19: Margaritae Scot.
18: L. Armenus sive L. Lazuli al.	17: Margaritae orient. Perlucid.	16: L. Nephrit. Levigat	15: L. Nephrit. al.	14: L. Nephriticus	13: L. Gagatis
12: L. Hyacinthus	11: L. Lazuli al.	10: L. Rubinus	9: L. Chrystallus	8: L. Granatus	7: L. Smaragdus
6: L. de Goa	5: L. Topasius	4: Bezoar orient. al.	3: Bezoar orientalis	2: L. Amethystus	1: Lapis Haematites

**Drawer G: Peas, Beans, Seeds**
50:	49: Cicor alb.	48: Portugal peas	47:	46: ??	45: Citterne	44: ??	43: Love is a-bleeding	42: ??	41: Cicer? ???
40: ??	39: Indian Cressa	38: ??	37: Nuces ??sia	36: ??	35: F?? sorrel	34: Yew seed	33: ??	32: ??	31: ??
30: ?? Lupini ??	29: ??	28: ??	27: ??	26: Water melon	25: ??	24: ??	23: Cianus	22: Pericanthis	21: ??
20: Portugal peas	19: ??	18: Sugar Peas	17: Rosa Peas	16: Dwarf Peas	15: ??	14: Smyrsca Peas	13: ??	12: Ceder Myrte	11: ??
10: ?? beans	9: Large tinted beans	8: ??	7: Betel?	6: Giesi?	5:	4: Spa??	3: ? Pesa	2:	1: Caravansa

**Drawer H: Gums and Resins**
23:		22:	21:
20: ??	19: ??	18: Heliotro?? ?? condens	17: Opium	16:
15: ??	14: ??	13: Sanguis Draconis in Calamis longioribus	12: Sanguis Draconis in calamis brevioribus	11: Sanguis Draconis as it drops f^r y^e Tree
10: Aloes Hepat.	9: Aloes caball.	8: Aloes rosat.	7: Succus Glucyrine	6: Myrrha
5: Terra Japonica	4: Succus Hypocistidos	3: Succus Acaciae	2: Manna in granis	1: Manna

**Drawer I: Pigments**
63: Iridicum Atramen.		62: ?? fr.	61: ??	60: Ash colour fr	59: Brown fr.	58: ??	57: ??
56: Venice Lake	55: Red Oker?	54: Copper col. Spec.	53: ??	52: Lake	51: ??	50: ??	49: ??
48: Lem. c???'d Sp	47: ??	46: Umber	45: Burnt Umber	44: Colens Earth Terra Lemni:	43: Sap Green	42: Jamaica Indico	41: Ivory Black
40: Cerusse	39: White fr.	38: Silver Colour'd Sp	37: Dutch Gold	36: Gold Colour'd Sp	35: French Oker	34: Gold fr.	33: Light Orange Sp.
32: Pale Masticote	31: Orpiment	30: Yellow Masticot	29: Dutch Pink	28: Masticote Deep	27: Red Orpiment	26: Deep Orange Sp.	25: Deepest Orange
24: Gaponnicum At.	23: Water? Gold	22: Gold Bronze	21: Verditure	20: Terre Vert	19: Verdigr. fine	18: Green Fr.	17: ??
16: Fine Russet	15: Armenian Bole	14: Roman Oker	13: Spanish Red	12: Indian Red	11: Red Lead	10: Vermilion	9: Carmine
8: Spanish Wool	7: Ultramarine	6: Blue Bice	5: Blue Verditer	4: Calcin'd Smalt	3: Blue fr.	2: Suptri??	1: Deep Smalt

**Drawer K: Fruits**
25: Grana Paradisa	24: Amygdala amara	23: Piper cubeba	22: Tamarind	21: Nutmeg?
20: Galls	19: ?? dates	18: Nuces Vomicae	17: Ca??	16: Anacardia orientalia antiquorum
15: Myrobalan Citrinae	14: Myrobalan chebulae	13: Myrobalan Belericae	12: Myrobalan Emblicae	11: Myrobalan
10: ??	9: Cope	8: ??	7: Chirmes Grana	6: Cocculi Indicus
5: Piper Longum	4: ??	3: Nuces Cypress.	2: Cassic Fist.	1: Alkegengi

**Drawer L: Fossils**
25: Lapis e Vesica pu???	24: Lapis e Vesica Lupi	23: Lapis e Vesicas Bov.	22: Lapides Plauta marino tenus filo nerae	21: Pectunculites ??
20: ??	19: Mytiloides vulgatior Anglicus	18: ??	17: ??	16: ??
15: ??	14: ??	13: ??	12: Ostreu minu filiatu	11: ??
10: ??	9: Muscu??	8: Echinites	7: Terebratulae Capsulari?	6: Cu??
5: Entrochus Cylindraceus	4: ??	3: ??	2: ??	1: ??

**Drawer M: Stones and Minerals**
22: ??tid al. fr.		21: Corallium alb. Fist. opt.	20: Corallium alb.
19: Sal nitrum defaecat	18: Sal nitrum non defaecat	17: Corallium rubrum Fisculosum	16: Corallium Rubr.
15: Osteocolla	14: Lapis Spong??	13: Terra Sigill. Lemnia	12: Terra Sigill. alb.	11: Terra Sigill. rubr.
10: Tartar alb.	9: Bolus Armenia	8: Tartar: Cremor J. Francisci Vigani	7: Bolon: Tartar:	6: ??
5: Lapis Hiberniae figura	4: Lapis Hiberniae	3: Lapis Tutiae	2: Lapis Calaminaris	1: Lapis Ætites

**Drawer N: Barks**
15:	14:	13:
12:	11: Cassia Lignea	10:
9: Cortex Winteranus	8: Cortex Citri	7: Cortex Esulae
6: Cortex Granatorum	5: Cortex Capparis	4: Cortex Esulae
3: Cortex Peruvianus	2: Cortex Tamarisci	1: Cortex Guiaci

**Drawer O: Shells and Snails**
18: Neriles fl.	17: Purpura	16: Murex Marmoreus
15:	14: Nautilites complanatior. Nautilitae minoris proplasma	13: Cochlea Depressa una cum albo nautilosae minori
12: Turbines	11: Turbinitis minimis fusileatus	10: Turbo Variegabus
9:	8: Pecten	7:
6: Trochus Pyramidalis	5: Trochus Pyramidalis Depressus	4: Cochlea Cylindroides
3: Concha Longa Rondel	2: Concha Fasciata Tonst.	1: Conchites Echinitis clunicularis

**Drawer P: Roots**
12: Alkanet??	11: ??
10: R. Emulae — Campana.	9: R. Costi dulcis
8: R. Mei Athamantici	7: R. Aristolochiae Long.
6: R. Scorzonerae	5: R. Calami Aromatici
4: R. Turpethi	3: R. Eryngii
2: R. Angelica	1: Radix Sarsaparilla

**Drawer Q: Roots**
20: Radix Acori	19: Rad. Azaumatica??	18: Salap??	17: Radix Polypodii	16: Radix Dictamni Alb.
15: Radix Behen Rubr.	14: Radix Behen Alb.	13: Radix Mechoacannae	12: Radix Tormentillae	11: Radix Ellebori Alb.
10: Radix Cyperi Rot.	9: Radix Cyperi Longi	8: Radix Bistortae	7: Radix Chinae	6: Radix Hermodactyli
5: Radix Iridis	4: Radix Jalappae	3: Radix Curcumae	2: Radix Chinae Nodosae	1: Radix Aristolochiae Rot.

**Drawer R: Animals**
18: Scinci marini		17: ??	16: Civet	15: Hippocampus Rondeletii
14: Cornu Cervi rasp.	13: Sericum crudum	12: Cochinella	11: Oculi Cancrorum	10: Sperma Ceti	9: Sanguis Hirci
8: Scorpio		7: Ossa de Corde Cervi	6: Chelae Cancrorum	5: Ichthyocolla
4: Vipera veneta		3: Ovarium c??nunae vivipara	2: Castoreum Russiae	1: Cap. Mosch.

**Drawer S: Woods and Barks**
11: Lignum Santalum Rubrum	7: Lignum Aloes	10: Viscus Quercinus	9: Lignum Guajacum
8: Lignum Santalum Citrinum		6: Lignum Rhodium
5: Lignum Santalum Album	2: Lignum Aspalathum Lignum Nephriticum	4: Lignum Juniperi
3: Lignum Colubrinum		1: Lignum Lentiscinum

**Drawer T: Flowers and Fruits**
13: Vanillo sive Banollo	12:	11: Radix Rapontici	10: R. Jallap.
9: Fruct. Alkekengi	8: Colocynthis		7: Fructa Acaciae
6: Folia Rosarum Rubrar	5: Flores Balaustia		4: Flores Chamaemeli
3: Flores Staechados. E horto Chels.	2: Flores Staechados		1: Flores Origani

**Drawer U: Metals**
20: ??	19: Lapis Specularis	18: Found in great balls among y^e Fuller's Earth near Rygate in Surrey	17: Bristoll Sone	16: Spelter
15: minera Auri Hungarici	14: Cuprum Americanum	13: Cuprum ex agris Lancastr. in Angliâ	12: Minera Cupri Anglicana in qua reperitur Lapis Lazuli	11: Fūligo ex iisdem offic. Antiquorum Pmpholyx??
10: Despumatio Plombi ex iisdem officinis.	9: Aureus ex iisdem offic.	8: Lithargyrus argenteus, ex officinis novi-castri in Angliâ. oritur ex Separatione Argenti a Plumbo.	7: Bismuth	6: Minera Bismuthi
5: Stibium ex Antimonio Hungarico	4: Regulus Antimonii ex Antim. Anglicano	3: Antimonium ex agris Cornub. in Anglia	2: Antimonium ex Hungariâ	1: Minera Antimonii al.

**Drawer W: Fossils**
14: Equus Caballus tooth	13: Tophus Bovinus	12: ??	11: Lapis Spinalis
10: VIII: Echinoids	9: VII: Ammonite Calcite or a Nautiloid	8: VI: ??	7: V: Iron Pyrites Marcasite
6: IV: Echinoids	5: III: Echinoids	4: II: Echinoid	3: Conchites I: Cast of Lamellibranch
2: Concha Veneris		1: Mater Margaritarū

**Drawer X: Plants**
14: ??		13: ??	12: ??	11: ??
10: ??	9: ??	8: Scaenanthus	7: Visnaga (Toothpick plant)	6: Coram?a	5: Isla?andba???
4: Polium Montanum		3: Fungus Sambuci.	2: Cascuta Dodder	1: Dictamnus Creticus

**Drawer Y: Pills, Creams, Syrups**
20: Unguent: Apostolor:	19: Num Mercur dulcis; Troch. Fledychr.; Troc? ??? Sc??le?	18: Emplast Diackyl: Simp:; Empl ??milog; Empl: E: Mucilag:	17: Cons: Al. korm: S: M:	16: Emplast: Paracels:; Emplast Adherniam; Emplast ??
15: Troch: Alkandal:; Troch: de Myrhae; Troche: de Carabe; Pil: Starkaei: Sen? Mathaei; Pil: Ē: Styrace	14: Powdered Myrrh of Carlisle; Pil: Coch: Major	13: Ung^t Aegyptiacū	12: Ung^t: E Gum: Elemi	11: ??
10: ??m?? Ox feroc.; Antihectium Poterii; Extract Rudii; Sacra??	9: El: De Bacc: Laur.	8: El: ???cord:	7: Elect: Caryocos??	6: ??uent ethaea
5: ??; ??; Spec: Aromat Rosat:; Pulv Rad: Ari comp:	4: Balsam: Lucatell; Troch.	3: Ung’t: Basilicon	2: Suger of Leade; Pil: Stom: cit Gum	1: Tamarinds

**Drawer Z: Roots**
17: Balsamum Tolutanum	16: Radix Serpentariae Virginianae	15: Radix Filipendulae	14: Radix Rhapontici	13: Ipecacuanha	12: Radix Rhabarbari	11: Radix Galangae minoris
4: Radix Ellebori Nigri	10: Radix Gentianae	9: Radix Pyrethri	8: R. Cassa? minoris?	7: Radix Rubiae Tinctorum	6: Radix Zedoariae	5: Radix Asari
4: Radix Ellebori Nigri	3: Radix Phu		2: Radix Contrayervae		1: Tacamahaca

**Drawer 1: Balsams, Oils**
36:	35:	34:	33:	32:	31: Balsamum Peruanum
30:	29:	28:	27:	26:	25: ??
24:	23:	22:	21:	20:	19:
18: ??	17:	16: Bals. Gillead	15: Trageum??	14: Terebinthina Cypria	13: Terebinthina è Chio
12: ??	11: Venice turpentine	10: Venice turpentine	9: Terebinthina Com.	8: Terebenthina Strasb.	7: Assafoetid
6: Ol. Palma	5: Ol. Palmelio	4: Balsamum Capivi	3: Ol. Laurinum?	2: Succus Kermis	1: Styrax Collat.

**Drawer 2: Oils, Balsams, Salts**
48: printed label	47: ??si	46: ??	45: ??	44: ??lic	43: ??	42: ??	41: Bezoar Minerale
40: ??	39: ??	38: ??	37: ??	36: Sulphur Antinon.	35: ??	34: ??	33: ??
32: ??	31: ??	30: ??	29: ??	28: ??	27: ??f orche?a??	26: ??	25: ??
24: ??	23: ??	22: Syr Balsam	21: ??	20: ??	19: Oleum G??niae	18: ??	17: ??
16: ??	15: ??	14: ??	13: ??	12: ??	11: Ol Anisi	10: Ol Caryophylli?	9: ??
8: Ol Terebinth.	7: Ol Anisi	6: Ol. Petr. Nigr.	5: Ol. Pet. Alb.	4: Bals. Gilead	3: Bals. Americ.	2: Bals. Capivi	1: Bals. Peru

**Drawer La1: Oils, Solutions of Salts, Alcohols**
48:	47:	46:	45:	44:	43:	42:	41:
40:	39:	38:	37:	36:	35:	34:	33:
32:	31:	30:	29:	28:	27:	26:	25:
24: ??	23: ??	22:	21: ??	20:	19:	18:	17:
16: ??	15: Acet. Bargtes	14: ??	13: ??	12:	11:	10:	9:
8: ??	7: ??	6: Prus. Oils Paf?	5: ??	4:	3:	2:	1:

**Drawer La2: Metals, Pigments, Resins, Stones**
22: Oyster Shell	21: ?? powder	20: Manganese	19: ?? metal ore; ?? transparent whitish crystal; ?? semi-transparent white mineral; ?? yellowish stone; ?? dark brown glass	18: ?? metal in crystal shape; ?? brown stone; ?? greenish-yellowish stone	17: ?? large white transparent crystal; ?? metal in shape of long needle
16: Manganese	15: Roman Oaker; French Oaker; Boll-Almenick; Burnt Umber; Cullens Earth; Vine Black; Blew Black; fine-Roset; Ross-Pink; Super fine Calsind Smalt; Sapph Green; Crimson Culler Spekels; Salop	14: ?? cast metal stick; Deep Strown Smalt; Flatt Oaker; Jamaco Endico	13: ?? metal foil; 3x ?? cast metal; ?? white mineral with long needles	12: ?? red stone; ?? transparent mineral; ?? ore; ?? stone with crystals; 2x ?? cast metal; 2x ?? metal foil	11: 4x ?? cast metal
10: Salt Petre; Sperma ceti; Zaffre	9: Purified Zinc	8: Bark of Sassafras; Shell Lac; White Lead	7: ?? yellow resin; 2 ?? stones	6: ?? fossil; ?? metal	5: ?? stone; indog Cood
4: Allum; Arnotto; Assafaetida; Gum Tragacanth	3: S. Benzoin; Arsenic; Lapis Calaminari; Soap Cerate; Gypsum Ponderosum	2: Seedlack & Shellack; Arrow Root	1: Venice Vipers; ?? stone

Drawer La3: Documents

Selected documentation

MS Vig. 2

Invoices from Francis Porter dated 1703 March 7, for specimens.

This “1703 March 7” was an old-style date: the year was 1704 by modern reckoning.

Totals:
£11 19s. 8½d. for 62 items;
£2 0s. 9d. for 12 items.
£14 0s. 5½d. for 74 items.

MS Vig. 4

Invoice from Henry Colchester dated 1703/4 February 18, enclosed within a note dated 1704 April 11.

Left: Columns 1 and 2 of 7.

Right: Column 3 of 7.

Left: Columns 7 and 4 of 7.

Right: Columns 5 and 6 of 7.

Grand total £20 2s. 11½d. for 321 items.

MS Vig. 6

Receipt signed by John Austin for payment of £10 for cabinet, dated 1704 August 8th.

MS Vig. 8

Invoice from Francis Porter dated 1704 January 16, for specimens.

This “1704 January 16” was an old-style date: the year was 1705 by modern reckoning.

Total £1 2s. 9d. for 30 items.

MS Vig. 9

Statement on total costs from Vigani, dated 1704/5 February 6, in his handwriting and poor English. Counter-signed by Poley Clopton.

Totals:
£51 07s. 4½d. from invoices, due to him from college;
£22 03s. 0d. previously paid to him for other items.
£73 10s. 4½d. total cost.

Credits

All photographs by Brian Callingham, taken 2003 for the doctoral dissertation of Lisa Wagner.

References and Further Reading

1682: Medulla Chemiæ. Authore Joanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi. (Gdansk) (OCLC 504895945)

1683: Medulla Chemiæ, of ’t Merg der Scheikonst, in welke kortelijk de gansche Chemie afgeleid werd, by Johannes Franciscus Viganus Veronensis. (Amsterdam) (OCLC 69034578)

1683: Medulla Chymiæ, Variis Experimentis aucta, multisq[ue] Figuris illustrata, by Johanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi. (London) (OCLC 38269160)

1684: Acta Eruditorum, 1684 August, pp. 394–5. (OCLC 1460878) [Review of London 1683 edition of Medulla Chymiæ]

1685: Medulla Chymiæ, Variis Experimentis aucta, multisq[ue] Figuris illustrata, by Johanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi. (London, with index) (OCLC 318557093)

1687: Chymia, Jam Variis Experimentis aucta, multisque Figuris illustrata, by Johann. Francisci Vigani. (London, with index) (OCLC 634034936)
1688: another edition (OCLC 181692362)

1693: Medulla Chymiæ, by Johanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi, commentary by David Stam (1633–1711) (Leiden) (OCLC 1222776161)

1693: Κερας Aμαλθειας, seu Thesaurus Remediorum è triplici regno, vegetabili, animali, minerali, ed. Emanuel König, pp. 135–148. (Basel) (OCLC 14296072) [146 recipes reprinted from Medulla Chymiæ]

ca.1699: Cours de Chymie. Joan: Francis: Vigani. Veronensis. University of Cambridge Library MS Dd.12.53. [Transcription in Wagner 2007]

1703: Grace Book Θ, p. 490. (GBR/0265/UA/Grace Book Theta)

1705: Seignior Vigani’s Course of Chymistry at CAMBRIDGE, Coll. Regin. die Novembr 19 1705. University of Glasgow Library GB 247 MS Ferguson 62.

1707: A Course of Chymistry under Signior Vigani Professor of Chymistry in the University of Cambridge at the Laboratory in Trin. Coll Nov^br & December 1707. QC Library MS 62, pp. 1–122. [Found by George Salt in Stockton-on-Tees 1935 December 31; acquired by Ernest Saville Peck, who donated it to this college 1938 October 10. Transcription in Wagner 2007]
1707: another version: MS Eng 685, Houghton Library, Harvard University.

1709: Advertisement for medicines, by Mr. Vigani, Professor of Chymistry (OCLC 1125436475)

1718: Medulla Chymiæ, Variis Experimentis Aucta multisque Figuris illustrata, by Jo. Francisci Vigani Veronensi. (Nuremberg) (OCLC 504207710) [reprint of 1685 ed.]

1730: A course of lectures, upon the Materia Medica, Antient and Modern, by Richard Bradley. (OCLC 14301900) [references Vigani’s collection at Queens’]

1748: Tables of specific gravities, extracted from various authors, with some observations upon the same, by Richard Davies M.D.^[Fellow], in Phil. Trans. R. Soc., Vol. 45, No. 488, pp. 416–489. (ISSN 0261-0523, eISSN 2053-9223) [references Vigani’s collection at Queens’ pp. 435–6]

1894: John Francis Vigani: First Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge, by John Ferguson. [read to Cambridge Antiquarian Society 1894 May 16, but never published: typescript carbon copy, on 10¼″ by 8″ paper, watermarked “Excelsior Extra Superfine British Make BCM/SH”. Originated from University of Glasgow (Peck 1934)]

1899: Vigani, John Francis, by John Ferguson, in Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 58, pp. 305–6.

192x: Substances in cabinet drawers (the “Old Inventory”), anonymous, undated. [Probably by Ernest Saville Peck, around 1922–33, typescript on 10″ by 8″ paper, watermarked “Winterton Bond”]

1933: Some 200 year-old specimens of drugs, by Norman Evers (1887–1972), in The Pharmaceutical Journal and Pharmacist (1933 March 18):219. (ISSN 0301-5432) [Vigani samples]

1934: John Francis Vigani, first Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge (1703–12), and his Materia Medica cabinet in the Library of Queens’ College, by Ernest Saville Peck (1866–1955), Proc. Cambridge Antiquarian Society, Vol. XXXIV (1934):34–49. (ISSN 0309-3603) [Read 1933 February 13]

1936: Catalogue of a loan exhibition of historic scientific apparatus in Cambridge, by Robert William Theodore Gunther, p. 25, item 153. (OCLC 55865226)

1937: Early science in Cambridge, by Robert William Theodore Gunther, p. 333, item 252, & pp. 472–81. (OCLC 2682655) [Vigani himself pp. 221–4, 330–1]

1952: John Francis Vigani: First Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge, by Leslie James Moger Coleby (1904–71), in Annals of Science, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, pp. 46–60. (ISSN 0003-3790 eISSN 1464-505X) [Vigani’s cabinet of Materia Medica survives in Queens’]

1953: Three Early Materia Medica Cabinets in Cambridge, by Ernest Saville Peck (1866–1955), in Medicine Illustrated, Vol. 7, iss. 2, February 1953, pp. 122–9. (ISSN 0266-982X)

1994: The Vigani specimen cabinet by John Austin, a Cambridge joiner, by Adam Bowett, in Regional Furniture, VIII (1994), pp. 58–63. (ISSN 0953-0800)

2002: ‘Boltheads and Crucibles’ : A Brief History of the 1702 Chair of Chemistry at Cambridge, by Christopher David Haley, pp. 3–6. (OCLC 51482640)

2003: Vigani and his cabinet, by Lisa Wagner and Brian Callingham^[Fellow], in Queens’ College Record 2003, pp. 14–16. (OCLC 265498993)

2004: Vigani, John Francis (c.1650–1713), by Antonio Clericuzio, in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

2005: Vigani and after: chemical enterprise in Cambridge 1680–1780, by Simon Schaffer and Larry Stewart, in The 1702 chair of chemistry at Cambridge : transformation and change, edited by Mary D. Archer & Christopher David Haley, pp. 31–56. (ISBN 978-0-521-82873-4)

2007: Fine Art Materials in Vigani’s Cabinet, 1704, of Queens’ College, Cambridge, by Lisa Wagner, doctoral dissertation, Academy of Fine Arts, Dresden. (OCLC 888712742) [4 vols + DVD-ROM]

2008a: Dr Bentley’s Laboratory, by Robin Carrell, in Trinity College Annual Record 2008, pp. 71–6. [to which Vigani moved his teaching 1707]

2008b: Twenty-first-century Vigani, by Brian Callingham^[Fellow], in Queens’ College Record 2008, p. 29. (OCLC 265498993)

2008c: Vigani, John Francis, by A. Rupert Hall, in Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, vol. 14, pp. 26–27. (ISBN 978-0-684-80588-7 eISBN 978-0-684-31559-1)

2009: Fine Art Materials in Vigani’s Cabinet, 1704, of Queens’ College, Cambridge, by Lisa Wagner, in Sources and Serendipity : Testimonies of Artists’ Practice, Third Symposium of the Art Technological Source Research Working Group, pp. 79–86. (ISBN 978-1-904982-52-4)

2011: Natural resins and balsams from an eighteenth-century pharmaceutical collection analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, by Gundel Steigenberger and Christoph Herm, in Anal Bioanal Chem (2011) 401:1771–1784. (ISSN: 1618-2642 (print), 1618-2650 (online))

2013a: The Vigani Cabinet – Analysis of historical resinous materials by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy, by Gundel Steigenberger, doctoral dissertation, Technical University, Dresden. (OCLC 854842314)

2013b: Some early eighteenth century geological Materia Medica, by Christopher J. Duffin, in A History of Geology and Medicine, edited by Duffin, C. J., Moody, R. T. J. & Gardner-Thorpe, C., Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 375, 209–233. (ISBN 978-1-86239-643-2)

2014: Natural resins and balsams from an 18th century pharmaceutical collection characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy, by Christoph Herm & Gundel Steigenberger, in 11th Infrared and Raman Users Group Conference Abstracts, pp. 47–52.

2015: A Survey of Artificial Pharmaceutical ‘Stones’ — Part 1, by Christopher J. Duffin and Rachael Pymm, in Pharmaceutical Historian, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 2–9, at p. 5. (ISSN 0079-1393)

2016a: Amber as a Component of Palaeontological Pharmacology, by Christopher J. Duffin, in Amber in the history of medicine : Proceedings of the International Conference, eds. I.A. Polyakova, C.J. Duffin, T.J. Suvorova, pp. 95–132. (ISBN 978-5-903920-43-3)

2016b: Investigation of coloured lead glass glitter from an early eighteenth century material collection, Cambridge, by electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analysis, by Gundel Steigenberger & Christoph Herm, in Heritage Science 4:24. (ISSN 2050-7445)

2019: British Eighteenth Century Materia Medica Collections, by Christopher J. Duffin, in Collection in the space of culture : Proceedings of the International Conference, eds. I.A. Polyakova, C.J. Duffin, T.J. Suvorova, pp. 105–125. (ISBN 978-5-903920-52-5)

2020: VIGANI, Giovanni Francesco, by Antonio Clericuzio, in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Volume 99. (ISBN 978-88-12-00032-6)