Milestones of Science Books

BOYLE, Robert.

Occasional Reflections upon several Subjects. Whereto is premis'd a Discourse about such Kind of Thoughts.

London: Printed for Henry Herringman, 1669.

2nd Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002492

Two parts in one volume. 8vo (165 x 106 mm). [40], 413 [1], [8] pp. Signatures: A8 a8 b4 B-Z8 Aa-Dd8 Ee4. Contemporary calf, rebacked (boards rubbed, corners restored and bumped). Internally little browned and spotted, preliminary leaf a2 trimmed at lower margin costing a few letters. Provenance: G. L. Benson (inscription on front pastedown dated 1834); F. M. Godwin Walliss (inscription on front pastedown); The library of Hugh Selbourne (small ink stamp to title verso and p.51). ----

Fulton 65; Wing B4006. SECOND EDITION. Largely written whilst on holiday at Stalbridge in Dorset, Boyle reflects upon many subjects including angling ('Upon Fishing with a counterfeit Fly' and 'Upon Catching Store of Fish at a Baited Place'), 'Upon the Sports being interrupted by Rainy-weather' and 'Upon the Eating of Oysters', "Boyle's discursive style made him the object of playful satire, and Swift confesses that the present work was the inspiration of his 'Occasional Meditations on a Broomstick', and it is usually stated that Reflection III of Section VI on 'The Eating of Oysters' (p. 194) gave birth to Gulliver's Travels." (Fulton, p.47). "The book was once wrongly attributed to Isaac Walton." (Honeyman 464).

Sold