Bacon (Sir Francis) Instauratio Magna [Novum organum], first edition, second issue (with e3 cancelled and previously blank e4 printed with an errata and colophon omitting Norton's name), fine engraved pictorial title by Simon van de Passe, woodcut head-pieces and historiated initials, c3 blank, lacking initial blank, the odd spot, 17th century blind-ruled calf, later ink title to spine, lower cover scuffed, spine spotted, rubbed, [Gibson 103b; Grolier / Horblit 8B; PMM 119; STC 1163], folio, Apud Ioannem Billium Typographum Regium, 1620.

⁂ A crisp and clean copy of this 'landmark in the advancement of human learning' (Pforzheimer, I, p.xxi). 'Bacon conceived a massive plan for the reorganisation of scientific method and gave purposeful thought to the relation of science to public and social life... The frontispiece to his magnum opus shows a ship in full sail passing through the Pillars of Hercules from the old to new world. it symbolizes the vision of the author whose ambitious proposal was 'a total reconstruction of sciences, arts and all human knowledge...to extend the power and dominion of the human race...''(PMM).