Alcuin Books, Ltd.

Sylva Sylvarum or, a Naturall Historie in Ten Centuries. [together with] New Atlantis

Verlam, Lord Francis, 1st Vicount St. Albans [Bacon, Francis].

London: By John Haviland for William Lee, 1639. Quarto. Item #022562

5th edition. Frontispiece portrait of Bacon, engraved title page and regular title page, (14)p. dedication, to the reader and table of experiments, 218pp., (21)pp, [together with] New Atlantis. A Work Unfinished. Undated title page, 43pp. (1)pp. to the reader, p. 13 and 14 misnumbered 21 and 22., p. 19 and 20 misnumbered 27 and 28. This 5th edition was published after the author’s death by his personal secretary William Rawley, Doctor Divinity, one of his Majesties Chaplaines. Hereunto is now added an alphabeticall table of the principall things contained in the whole worke. This work is an anthology of one thousand paragraphs consisting of extracts from many books, mostly from antiquity, and Bacon's own experiments and observations. It is fascinating as it contains numerous passages dealing with medical treatments for the prolongation of life and the preservation of flesh. At the end of the volume, Rawley also included the New Atlantis. A Worke unfinished. Bacon was a scientist, politician, philosopher, attorney general, member of Parlement, author, etc. . He was also appointed Lord Chancery of the High Court, but he had become best known for his promotion of the scientific method. He was knighted upon James I's ascension to the British throne. A handsome copy bound in 19th century 3/4 polished calf over cloth, raised bands with title gilt, portrait frontispiece and engraved title page had been mounted, top edges of leaves were closely trimmed a bit, frontispiece and title page have finger soiling, text clean without foxing and beautifully printed.

Price: $1,350.00