The History of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge,

The History of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge,

Publication details: Printed by T[homas] R[oycroft] for J. Martyn [...] and J. Allestry, printers to the RoyalSociety,1667,

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Sprat's History unpicks the specific historical and intellectual circumstances that led to the foundation of the Royal Society, and places these in context by including edited versions of papers by luminaries such as Hooke, Petty, et al. He aimed to embody the experimental principles of Francis Bacon - that 'marriage of hand and mind' - on which the society was based, by including original papers by its members. Notable among these is 'A History of the Making of Saltpetre and Gunpowder' by Thomas Henshaw (1618-1700), which provided the pretext by which notorious anti-Royal Society pamphleteer, Henry Stubbe, attacked the Royal Society some three years later. (See: Haileigh Robertson, 'A gunpowder controversy in the early Royal Society, 166770' RS Journal, 2019.)

Description

FIRST EDITION, without the engraved Hollar frontispiece (as is common), but with the 'of' repetition on p.85, lines 6-7, engraved arms of the Royal Society on the verso of the licence/imprimatur leaf (A1) and 2 engraved folding plates; the odd contemporary scribble and mark here and there but overall a very clean copy, pp. [xvi], 438, [1], 4to, contemporary blind ruled calf, skilfully rebacked (retaining backstrip), corners a little bumped, newer spine label; near-contemporary ownership inscription to title of 'Jo: Farrington [...] 1686'.

Bibliography: (ESTC R16577; Wing S5032; Norman 1989; Keynes, Evelyn 178; Hooke 28)

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