Milestones of Science Books

BOYLE, Robert.

The Origine of Formes and Qualities.

Oxford: Printed by H. Hall, for Ric Davis, 1666.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002485

8vo (137 x 89 mm). [50], 1-269, [5], 271-433 [1] pp., errata on final page, two-leaves advertisements on T7-8, imprimatur on title-leaf verso dated November 2, 1665. Signatures: a-b8 A2 B-S8 T8 (T6+chi1.2) V-Z8 2A-2F8. Contemporary calf (early rebacking, upper hinge repaired, corners worn and bumped, boards soiled). Internally somewhat browned and spotted (final two leaves stronger), few leaves with marginal dampstains, tiny hole in leaf a1 affecting two letters recto and verso. Provenance: Carol Migley, and John Newton (early ownership inscriptions on flyleaf and title-page), The library of Hugh Selbourne (small ink stamp to title verso). ----

Fulton 77; Wing B4014. - FIRST EDITION. In 'The Origine of Formes and Qualities', Boyle argued that the defining properties of objects came not from within, but rather from the effects they produced upon the world around them. "In his essay on 'Colours' and in the present work Boyle paved the way for the Newtonian concept of light. His predecessors had held that the properties of a body were due to its innate qualities: that grass was green because it had 'greenness' in it. In this work Boyle argued that the qualities of bodies resulted not entirely from their innate substance, but rather from the effects which they produced upon their immediate surroundings" (Fulton, p.55).

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