Novum Organum Scientiarum

'a landmark in the advancement of human thought'

The first pocket edition of Sir Francis Bacon's major philosophical work the Novum Organum ('a new Organon' — a scathing attack on Aristotle's logical works collected under that title), bound with his Historia Naturalis.

Together the works form the second and third parts of Bacon's ambitious plan to reform the the nature of philosophical and scientific enquiry. In Bacon's own words, the Instauratio Magna was to be 'no more but a new logic, teaching to invent and judge by induction, (as finding syllogism incompetent for sciences of nature), and thereby to make philosophy and sciences both more true and more active' (Letter to King James, Bacon 1874, pp119–20).

This ambition to bridge the old and new worlds is symbolised in the famous engraved title-page by Simon van der Passe showing a sailing ship passing through the Pillars of Hercules: 'Multi pertransibunt et augebitur scientia' ('Many will pass through and knowledge will be the greater').

With excellent provenance for the Anglican clergyman and reformist Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), best-known for his association with Christian socialism and the founding of working men's colleges.

Two works bound in 1 vol.; 12mo (13.5 x 8.5 cm); each with engraved title, woodcut initials, head and tailpieces, armorial bookplate to front pastedown, contemporary MS notes in pen to front free endpapers, occasional light spotting and toning; contemporary vellum, yapp edges, MS title to spine, a little soiled and warped, very good; [24], 404, [4];[16], 232, [16]pp.

Gibson 105 & 110a; USTC 1028970; STCN 840277520.