Difficiles Nugae: Or, Observations Touching the Torricellian...
Hale Disputes the Theories of Descartes and Robert Boyle [Hale, Sir Matthew (1609-1676)]. Difficiles Nugae: Or, Observations Touching the Torricellian Experiment, And the Various Solutions of the Same, Especially Touching the Weight and Elasticity of the Air. London: Printed by W. Godbid, for William Shrowsbury, 1674. [viii], 304, [8] pp. With two folding plates. Octavo (6-1/2" x 4"). Contemporary calf, blind rules to boards, raised bands, blind fillets and (later?) lettering piece and gilt date to spine, gilt tooling to board edges, marbled edges. Light rubbing and some scuffing and gatoring to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, somewhat heavier to joints, boards starting at ends but secure, corners bumped and lightly worn, pastedowns loosening, library bookplate to front pastedown. Light toning to interior, occasional light foxing, early ink annotation and struck-through ownership signature to title page. $2,000. * First edition. Difficiles Nugae, one of Hale's few scientific works, disputes the theories of Descartes and Robert Boyle regarding atmospheric pressure and the development of the barometer. It relies heavily on the work of Aristotle, among others. Like his other scientific writings, it demonstrates a high level of familiarity with recent scientific literature and reflects many of the core concerns present in his religious treatises. It was one of the few works published in Hale's lifetime. OCLC locates 3 copies of the first edition in North America (University of Illinois, Yale Medical School, Huntington Library). The ESTC adds copies at Harvard, McGill and UCLA. English Short-Title Catalogue (ESTC) R228007.
Price: $2,000.00
Book number 74947