Bacon francis

1670 · 100645 — Small folio 11 ¼ x7 ½ modern calf spine and corners and marbled boards morocco lettering piece engraved title page from 1676 edition inserted 2 12 2 14 215 23 221-228 11 64 31 pp. Lacking original engraved frontispiece title but one from later edition inserted some tears and chips along edges additional original title present light wear to edges faint dampstain and light foxing; otherwise very good. This is an interesting collection of the miscellaneous scientific writings and experiments of Francis Bacon 1561-1626 appended with his utopian work “A New Atlantis.†The book first appeared the year after his death edited and published by William Rawley but went through a number of editions reflecting the popularity of his writings. While Bacon would be well educated in his early years as the youngest son in his family he would be left without land money or position upon his father’s death in 1579. However thanks to his tremendous intellect and political skills he would have a very successful political and intellectual career and would prosper under James I. Among his many accomplishments would be obtaining the post of attorney general but bribery charges would bar him from ever holding public office again. He would publish a good deal in his later years and legend suggests that his intellectual curiosity would eventually cost him his life when he caught chill after experimenting with the impact of cold temperatures on decaying meat. More recently it has been suggested that his death was caused by “inhaling remedial substances†in an effort to improve his health. ODNB. STC 1173. William Lee, books