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 "The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount of St. Alban, Lord High Chancellor of England, in Four Volumes. With Several Additional Pieces, Never Before Printed in Any Edition of His Works. To Which Is Prefixed, a New Life of the Author, by Mr. Mallet"

1st Collected Edition

English scientist, political philosopher, statesman, and essayist who was leading proponent of the scientific revolution

"I give to my son, when he shall arrive to the age of fifteen years, Algernon Sidney's works, --John Locke's works, --Lord Bacon's works, --Gordon's Tacitus, - and Cato's Letters. May the spirit of liberty rest upon him."

American Patriot and Lawyer Josiah Quincy, Jr. in his Last Will and Testament in 1774

This classic of Western Civilization was printed for A. Millar, London Hardcover 1740, 1st Collected Edition, Very good. 4p.l.,[iv] (list of subscribers),lxxxii,394,[38] (index),124 (Appendix);2p.l.,568,[28];1p.l.,586,[46];1p.l.,740,[28]pp. 4 volumes Folio (8 1/4 by 12 1/2"). Full calf binding with gilt spine and 5 raised bands, all edges red. Copper engraved frontispieces in three volumes (Vol 2 engraved fp entitled Moniti Meliora, unsigned, Vol. 3. engraved fp. of Bacon signed W. Hollar, Vol 4. Similar fp. to vol. 3 but signed G. Vertue.) and vol. 1 title page with engraved vignette of Bacon signed H. Gravelot, as shown below. Vol. 1 Frontpiece engraving of Bacon is missing. In Latin and English. Bookplate of Kirkwall as shown below. First edition of the Life, by Mallet.

Francis Bacon, author of the famous aphorism, "knowledge is power", is found in the Meditations (1597) was a keen observer of the relationship between technology and power as noted in his  Novum Organum (New Instrument, published 1620):

"Printing, gunpowder and the compass: These three have changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world; the first in literature, the second in warfare, the third in navigation; whence have followed innumerable changes, in so much that no empire, no sect, no star seems to have exerted greater power and influence in human affairs than these mechanical discoveries."

Bacon's biggest claim to fame, however, is that he delineated the principles of the inductive method, which constituted a breakthrough in the approach to science. Bacon argued that the only knowledge of importance to man was empirically rooted in the natural world; and that a clear system of scientific inquiry would assure man's mastery over the world. That new perspective became an important component of the scientific method which ushered in the modern world.

This is a nice set of these rare books with full calf binding in solid condition that had a cracked hinged professionally repaired in the recent past. This set lists on the internet from $5,000 to $2,000 (in contemporary binding with cracked hinges). Only the volume 1 frontpiece engraving is missing so this wonderful 1st edition set of the complete works of the father of the scientific revolution is a bargain at the listed price.

Price: $1,750

(Insured shipping on this heavy set is $35 in the United States)

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