The Works of the Honourable Robert Boyle: In Five Volumes - 1744

Robert Boyle FRS (1627 – 1691) was an Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor. Boyle is largely regarded today as the first modern chemist, and therefore one of the founders of modern chemistry, and one of the pioneers of modern experimental scientific method. He is best known for Boyle's law, which describes the inversely proportional relationship between the absolute pressure and volume of a gas, if the temperature is kept constant within a closed system. Among his works, The Sceptical Chymist is seen as a cornerstone book in the field of chemistry. He was a devout and pious Anglican and is noted for his writings in theology.Although he was a contemporary of Isaac Newton and published many books during his lifetime, this 1744 set is the first edition of his collected works in English, and the only edition in full folio size (15" x 10"). The set [Fulton 240] is bound in full mottled calf with gilt titles and designs with raised bands on the spines and gilt ruling outlining the front covers of all volumes. Engraved frontispiece portrait in Vol. I, title pages in red and black. It has the complete 27 numbered plate illustrations called for in Fulton on 15 fold-out pages. Vol. V has a bumped upper front corner, and some hinges are cracked, but all volumes' bindings are still intact and generally sound, much better than average for such large and heavy (vols. are 6-8 lbs. each) books of this age. The front endpapers of Vol. V are loose but present. Text has some age darkening, primarily on endpapers, but all pages are clean and unmarked. Overall, all volumes are Good+ to Very Good.The illustrations include:Vol. I -- 2 plates on 1 foldout pageVol. II -- 7 plates on 5 foldout pagesVol. III -- 8 plates on 5 foldout pagesVol. IV -- 6 plates on 3 foldout pagesVol. V -- 1 plate on 1 foldout pageProvenance: At the time of publication, one would have had to have been nobility to have afforded such a large, expensively bound set as this. The armorial bookplate of Lord Sandys is affixed to the front pastedown of each volume. Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys PC (1695 –1770), was a British Whig politician who represented Worcester in the House of Commons from 1718 until 1743, when he was created Baron Sandys. He held numerous posts in the government of the United Kingdom, namely Chancellor of the Exchequer, Leader of the House of Commons, Cofferer of the Household and First Lord of Trade.Note: This large set is quite heavy. Shipment to any buyer outside the US will require additional shipping charges. Within the US, my policy of free shipping will still apply.