BACON, Francis.

Historia Vitae & Mortis. Sive, Titulus Secundus in Historia Naturali & Experimentali ad condendam Philosophiam: Quae est Instaurationis Magnae pars tertia. (The History of Life and Death. With Observations Natural and Experimental for the Prolonging of Life: This being the Third Part of the Great Unstauration).

Londini: Io. Haviland, 1623. FIRST EDITION TP + [1]-[3] = preface + 1-410 + 407-454 (repeating 407-410 as called for in Gibson), small Octavo. Gibson 147.Title framed in double rule, text framed in single rule. With blanks at Aa4 (pp. [369-370]) and Cc6 (pp. [405-406]). A fascinating and influential work that was to constitute the third book of Bacon's projected "Instauratio Magna", a multi-part work which, though never completed, had the overall aim of creating a new system of philosophy and extending man's dominion over nature. This third part of the work was to be devoted to the study of the prolongation of life - a topic that was close to Bacon's heart as he saw this objective as one of the highest goals of his new, operative science. If achieved, it would make a partial recovery of what mankind had lost with the Fall. Historia Vitae & Mortis contains a collection of materials that are subjected to the scientific method of induction. It is made up of a series of essays devoted to all aspects of the maintenance and prolongation of life, including medicines and herbs, food and drink, sleep and exercise, temperature and climate, occupations, baths and hygiene. In this book, Bacon recommends life in caves and on mountains and suggest that frequent blood-letting may help to renew the body fluids. Contemporary vellum with smooth spine. Lovely contemporary hand-lettered title on spine ("F. Baron / historia / vitæ et / mortis / ?"). Some light soiling to exterior and slight wear to three of the four corners but overall quite lovely. Small piece missing from the top of the front free endpaper (½" to 0" deep by 3" wide). Some signatures water stained (before printing?), approximately 3" x 3½" triangle in lower right corner: affecting signatures B [very lightly], R, S, Z [very lightly], Cc, Dd, Ee [very lightly]. Despite the occasional waterstaining, a really lovely copy. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

• USD 3,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 208

• bookseller: Athena Rare Books (USA)