Lot 26
Bacon, Francis
Opera omnia quae extant
The Library of James Stirling, Mathematician
Auction: 23 October 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
Frankfurt: Johann Baptiste Schönwetter, 1665 [i.e. 1668]. First collected edition in any language, folio (34.4 x 20cm), half-title with engraved portrait on verso, title-page in red and black, ownership inscription of James Stirling to front pastedown, contemporary British panelled calf, a little rubbed, joints splitting, some browning throughout [Gibson 235; VD17 1:072143T]
Footnote
Gibson identifies two issues of this edition, with the headlines either in italic types as in the present copy, or roman, italic copies also showing birds in flight over a flagpole in the engraved title-page vignette. VD17 does not mention either distinction, but instead contains a separate record for copies dated 1668 on the part-title to De sapientia veterum (leaf 3G3), as seen here. Gibson does not assign priority to either issue, but a spot-check of several different copies suggests that roman copies have the part-title to De sapientia veterum dated 1664, whereas italic copies have 1668.