The Knowledge of the World

London: Robert Baldwin, 1812. 310 by 240mm (12¼ by 9½ inches). First edition. Lg. 4to. viii, 552, xcii pp. Index. Very nicely rebound in half-calf over marbled boards, morocco spine labels. Old round ink stamp ​“King’s Inn Library, Dublin” on verso of title page and final leaf.

Very good plus, with very light foxing on a few pages.

The Royal Society is a Fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. From the preface:

The following Work… was intended to consist partly of Biographical Sketches of some of the most eminent Fellows of the Royal Society, and partly of an arranged view of the whole contents of the Philosophical Transactions, from the commencement of the work, in 1665, down to the end of the year 1800…

The book comprises an extensive summary of the world’s knowledge of natural history, mathematics, mechanical philosophy, and chemistry. The Appendices cover: I: Charter of the Royal Society; II: Patent granting Chelsea to the Royal Society; III: Minutes of the Royal Society respecting Sir Isaac Newton; IV and V: A complete list of all Fellows of the Society 1663–1812.

At the time of cataloguing, this is—by far—the best copy available for sale.