Bacon (Sir Francis) De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum Libri IX, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, engraved portrait by Simon van de Passe bound in after title (not called for), Pierre Gassendi's copy, with his ownership inscription "donum optimi d[omi]ni de Peiresc, ideo acceptum, quòd aliud exe[m]plar in folio hab[ea]t. 26 mart. M.DC.XXXVI. Gassendi." to foot of title, some worming to upper and fore-margins, often repaired, very occasionally affecting a few letters, small hole to XXx1 with slight loss of text, some light browning and spotting, the occasional light damp-stain near start, marginal browning to first and last few leaves, bound in handsome contemporary red morocco by Simon Corberan, binder to Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, covers with central gilt monogram of Peiresc and triple gilt fillet border, spine with three raised bands, compartments decorated with small floral tools, second compartment with title and date lettered in gilt, neat and expert repairs to some corner tips, foot of upper joint and head of spine, a few small and light stains to lower cover, housed in a later custom red morocco drop-back box, [Gibson 130], 4to, Paris, Typis Petri Mettayer, 1624.

⁂ An excellent association copy, gifted by French savant and astronomer Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc (1580-1637) to philosopher and mathematician Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655) on 26th March 1636. The present edition is the first continental, and second overall, of Bacon's rallying cry for the advancement of learning. Peiresc's admiration of Bacon is attested by Gassendi himself in the latter’s biography of his good friend, first published in Latin in 1641 and translated into English in 1657: "No man made more observation, or procured more to be made...for which cause he admired the Genius, and approved the design of the great Chancellour of England Sir Francis Bacon, often grieving that he never had the happinesse to speak with him" (The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility Being the Life of the Renowned Nicolaus Claudius Fabricius, Lord of Pieresk, London, 1657, p. 207). Peiresc played a pivotal role in the dissemination of Baconian thought across continental Europe, having copies of the present work sent to his large network of scientific correspondents. This copy, gifted to the recipient of his patronage Pierre Gassendi, thus represents an extraordinary union of three of the principal advocates of the New Science: Bacon, Gassendi, and Peiresc.