First Collected Edition of Swedenborg's Main Scientific Works. Complete with all Plates
Opera Philosophica et Mineralia.
Dresden & Leipzig: Frideich Henkel, 1734.
Opera Philosophia et Mineralia. Dresden & Leipzig: Friderich Henkel, 1734.
The first collected edition of Swedenborg's main scientific works. Three folio volumes (12 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches; 322 x 196 mm). [16], 160, 165-452, [2, blank]; [12], 164, [2, map-title], 165-386; [14], 534 pp. Volume I with jump in pagination, but complete and collates correct. Complete with 156 plates on 125 sheets, including a frontispiece portrait in Volume one of Swedenborg by Bernigrot fil after I.W. Stör, and two folding maps. Many of the plates are folding. Also with engraved vignettes on title and on dedication pages, each volume being dedicated to a different noblemen. Numerous engraved initials, headpieces and tailpieces. Each volume with three sections, each with a separate title-page. With the 3 plates numbered 38 in volume one and without the plate numbered 27 in volume I as called for.
Contemporary half speckled calf, over speckled paper boards. Each volume with two morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. All edges speckled brown. Board edges rubbed and corners bumped. Outer joints of volumes I and III splitting but holding firm. Previous owner's old ink signature dated 1773 on the general half-title of volume I. Leaf M of Volume II with a one-inch closed tear to bottom margin, not affecting text. Leaf A of Volume III with professional repair to inner margin, not affecting text. Text is very clean. Some occasional toning to plates, but generally a very good set.
The first collected edition of Swedenborg's main scientific works, his three-volume Opera philosophica et mineralis ("Philosophical and mineralogical works") comprising Principia rerum naturalium and his monographs on the metallurgy of iron and copper Regum subterranemum sive minerale de ferro and Regnum.. .de cupro et orichalco.
"Swedenborg (1688-1772) philosopher, scientist, mystic, and founder of a sect that bears his name. This collected works is called by Partington, '... his most important scientific work.' The first work here is the Principia rerum naturalium which was probably conceived as a counterpart to Newton's Principia. '...he sought a comprehensive physical explanation of the world based on mathematical and mechanical principles. While remaining faithful to the general principles of Cartesian natural philosophy...Swedenborg elaborted upon them." DSB.
Swedenborg's Principia Rerum Naturalium is an important book in the history of science, representing some of the earliest systematic accounts of electromagnetism. The Principia is also an important point in the spiritual-philosophical development of Swedenborg himself, as it represents one of his first attempts to conjoin matter and spirit, or the physical with the metaphysical.
"This is the author's famous work on science. Vol. I. contains 250 pages [sic.] of printed matter with diagrams and illustrations on the causes and mechanism of magnetic force; the law of distance; magnetic declination, its causes and how its value may be calculated" (Wheeler Gift, 164).
Dresden, Leipzig: 1734. Hyde 228 - 230, calling for 110 plates only.
HBS 68613.
$16,500.
Price: $16,500.00
Item #68613