17th Century Works from E C Books

Middelburgh: Jacques Fierens, Boeck-verkooper, inde Globe, 1662 A rare 1st edition copy of the first part of Johannes Goedaert's 3 part work on the development and metamorphosis of insects. This copy lacks the decorative title page but is otherwise complete with 63 pages of hand coloured plates. It has been collated against the 1662 copy held by the Getty Research… Read more about this item

London: Printed by TN for George Marriott, 1676 A good copy of the second impression, corrected, 'with many Additions, and several new plates' in largely contemporary full leather binding. John Rea was an early to mid 17th century nursery gardener who is seen as a pioneer in methods of fruit growing and garden design. He lived at Norton's Ends, Kinlet,… Read more about this item

London: Jacob Tonson, 1700 A very good copy of what is probably the earliest published account of the Orkney Islands, in contemporary full leather binding, with newer spine, and with folding map and plate. The work was originally written by James Wallace (1642-1688) who was a Minister - initially in Ladykirk and then Kirkwall. The manuscript, complete with his drawings,… Read more about this item

London: Adam Islip, 1627 A fair copy of the extremely scarce '2nd impression' of Edward Grimeston's Generall Historie of the Netherlands. Grimeston was known as prolific translator, and the first edition of the Historie was largely taken from J F Le Petit's 'La Grand Chronique Ancienne et Moderne de Hollande'. It was a fairly faithful translation, but he researched the… Read more about this item

Paris: L'Auteur, au Faux-bourg Saint Germain et Olivier de Varennes, 1669 A very good copy of the scarce 1st edition. Moyse Charas (1619-1698) was an apothecary, famous for his pharmaceutical work. He was expert in poisons and their antidotes and this study on vipers and venom was ground-breaking and popular at the time. This copy is in contemporary calf boards… Read more about this item

Amstelodami [Amsterdam]: Ex Typographia Blaviana , 1692 A good copy in contemporary vellum with a later taped spine with handwritten title. Latin translation of Descartes' last work - Les passions de l'ame, 1649, which originated from correspondence with Princess Elisabeth of the Palatinate, and is an exploration of the connection between human emotions - the province of the mind -… Read more about this item

Oxford: Printed by Henry Hall Printer to the University, for Richard Davis, 1669 A very good copy in new quarter leather binding with raised bands to spine and title label and gilt date, and marbled boards. Complete with 8 fold-out plates, and decorative head and tailpieces. A continuation of Robert Boyle's work on gases published in 1660. He was a… Read more about this item

Oxford: Printed by W Hall for Tho. Bowman , 1672 A good copy in contemporary leather binding rebacked with newer spine and title, author and date labels. The work is considered to be one of the first looking primarily at winds. Ralph Bohun was a Fellow of the Royal Society and gathered considerable information from sea voyages. It has… Read more about this item

Oxford: Printed by Leonard Lichfield, 1642 An extremely scarce 1st edition copy of Francis Potter's work. Potter (1594-1678) was a clergyman with a wide range of other interests. He was an early member of the Royal Society (admitted in 1663), experimenting with bees, theorising about blood transfusion and making instruments including a sundial. He developed a theory that the approximate… Read more about this item

Amsterdam: Joannem Jacobi fil. Schipper, 1657 A fair copy of the extremely scarce Insectis section of Jan Jonston's famous work Historiae Naturalis. Jonston (1603-1675) studied botany and medicine and was a doctor. This copy is classed as 'fair' because it has been rebound in plain buckram binding without the title page, and the paper is very soft and lightly stained… Read more about this item

London : Anne Seile, 1669 A very good copy of the 5th edition 'enlarged and corrected by the Author'. In contemporary full calf binding (which has been rebacked retaining the original spine) and with the decorative title and 4 maps. The binding is in very good clean condition. The front board has the initials FT impressed on the leather and… Read more about this item

London : The Fabian, 1681 A poor to fair copy of this scarce work by William Drummond of Hawthornden. Drummond was a Scottish poet and it is said that this work emerged from his researches into his family history. The binding is in serious need of repair and it lacks the frontispiece, original title and the 5 further plates. The… Read more about this item

The Savoy: Printed by Tho. Newcomb for the Author, 1670 A good copy of the 1st edition in contemporary full leather binding. The binding has raised bands to spine and a newer title label. It has had some repair in the past but is splitting at the front joint and has general wear. particularly to corners. There is the bookplate… Read more about this item

London: S Smith, 1685 A very good copy of Goedart's work on insect metamorphosis, edited by M Lister, who added an appendix. First edition in this form. Johannes Goedart set up, observed and documented a series of experiments which demonstrated that caterpillars, pupae and butterflies were not different animals, but forms of the same animal. His works were first available… Read more about this item

Edinburgh: Jacobi Kniblo, Josuae Solingensis & Johannes Colmarii, 1684 A good copy of this scarce work, in later full cloth binding with 22 illustrations on 20 plates. Robert Sibbald (1641-1722) was born in Fife and qualified as a physician after study in Leiden and Paris. He was appointed as the first Professor of Medicine at Edinburgh University and became Geographer… Read more about this item

London: Printed by Joseph Streater, for sale by T Basset, J Robinson, B Aylmer, Joh Southby And W Canning, 1688 A very good copy of this important work on comparative anatomy with engraved title; rubricated title and 30 plates. The original publication had 2 separate parts, both complete in themselves - the second section 'The Measure of the Earth' translated… Read more about this item

Utrecht: Petrum Elzevirium, 1668 A good early edition of this important work on Scottish history, first published in 1582. George Buchanan was a renowned 16th century scholar who, among many other appointments, tutored both the young Mary Queen of Scots and James VI. This is the first history of Scotland written by a Scot and is notable, particularly for the… Read more about this item

Osnabrugi [Osnabruck]: Johan.Georg.Schwanderum, 1676 A fair copy of an early edition of Isaac Barrow's classic translation of Euclid's work. Isaac Barrow (1630-1677) was a mathematician, classical scholar and theologian. He is principally known for his work on tangents and Calculus. He was one of Isaac Newton's teachers. This translation of Euclid from the Greek to Latin was his first work.… Read more about this item

Londini: Ex officina typographica Thom. Cotes, 1634 A fair copy of the first printing of Insectorum Theatrum, classed as 'fair' because the title page and final plate page are in facsimile. The title page is that of the 3rd issue with a single printer named, but the book itself is 1st issue with page numbering at p 48 corrected in… Read more about this item

At the Sun over against St Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet: Printed by William Wilson, for Abel Roper, 1648 A fair copy of an extremely scarce work. Thomas Overbury (1581-1613) is best known for the scandal surrounding his death by poisoning in the Tower, and the trial that followed it some 2 years later. He studied Law in 1598, was knighted… Read more about this item