[Original Vellum] Opera omnia quae extant, philosophica, moralia, politica, historica ... in quibus complures alii tractatus, quos brevitatis causa praetermittere visum est, comprehensi sunt, hactenus nunquam conjunctim edita, jam vero summo studio collecta, uno volumine comprehensa, & ab innumeris mendis repurgata: cum indice rerum ac verborum universali absolutissimo. His praefixa est auctoris vita [comprising The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh; Sylva Sylvarum; The Essays, or Counsels, Civil and Moral; The Wisdom of the Ancients; Advancement and Proficiency of Learning; The Phenomena of the Universe or a Natural and Experimental History for the foundation of Philosophy] de BACON, Francis [Francisci Baconi], 1561-1626 - 1665

Francofurti ad Moenum [Frankfurt]: Impensis Joannis Baptistae Schonwtteri, typis Matthaei Kempfferi, 1665, 1665. Vellum. Very Good. First Latin Edition of Bacon's collected works, comprising The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh; Sylva Sylvarum; The Essays, or Counsels, Civil and Moral; The Wisdom of the Ancients; Advancement and Proficiency of Learning; The Phenomena of the Universe or a Natural and Experimental History for the foundation of Philosophy. Folio; 10 preliminary leaves, 1324 numbered columns, 29pp index, with engraved portrait frontispiece of Bacon (often lacking) as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and Lord Chancellor by Wenceslaus Hollar after Simon van de Passe (originally the frontispiece of 'Sylva Sylvarum, 1626) and the title page, with engraved publisher's device, printed in red and black, decorative head- and tailpieces and initials. Each of the eight works with separate title page with woodcut vignette and imprint date Anno MDCLXIV; pagination continuous throughout. Contemporary full vellum, spine lettered in brown ink in contemporary hand. Vellum worn and stained, short splits to joints top and bottom, but binding holding tight and firm; pages deeply and evenly browned (not foxed), but the paper still supple. A Very Good completely unsophisticated copy. Gibson 236. Bacon was at various times a lawyer, judge, political theorist, statesman, natural philosopher, essayist, historian, rhetorician, and utopian. Early in his career, he claimed "all knowledge as his province" and dedicated himself to a wholesale revaluation and restructuring of traditional learning. The Essays, rewritten and revised over the course of almost thirty years, are exemplars of English Renaissance prose style. In the Advancement of Learning, Bacon took the measure of the contemporary intellectual scene to pave the way for his distinct contribution to natural philosophy. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).