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BOYLE, ROBERT
New experiments physico-mechanical touching the spring of the air, and its effects .... writ-
ten by way of letter to .... Charles Lord Viscount of Dungarvan. Bound with: a defence of the
doctrine touching the spring and weight of the air. Bound with: an examen of Mr. T. Hobbs his
dialogus physicus. Three parts in one volume. London: Printed by Miles Flesher for Richard
Davis, bookseller in Oxford, 1682. 8vo. pp. [xvi], 203, [xii], 117, [viii], 102, 2 (catalogue of
Boyle’s work). A very good copy in modern full panelled calf. Wing B 4000. Fulton 15.
The “best” edition is not the 1st but rather that of 1662, identified by the half-title notation
“Second edition”, which carries an appendix, announcing to the world a discovery that came
to be known as “Boyle’s Law”, namely that “the volume occupied by a gas is the reciprocal of
its pressure”. He published this to counter the attack of F Linus in his “Tractatus de corporum
inseparabilite” - London: 1661, on Boyle’s deduction that the air had weight. The recipient of
this historic letter was the eldest son of the earl of Cork. Sweeney 558 quoting the 1st edition
of 1660.
€600 - €800
38
BOYLE, ROBERT
A continuation of new experiments physico mechanical touching .... the air. The I. part written
by way of letter to .... the Lord Clifford and Dungarvan - Oxford, 1669. 4to. pp. [xxi], 198, [12], 7
(plates). A very good copy in modern calf. Wing B 3934. Fulton 16. This contains eight folding
plates usually bound in at the end, which inter alia show the single barrelled air-pump devised
by Boyle and Hooke. Sweeney 559.
€600 - €800
40
BOYLE, ROGER, EARL OF ORRERY
An answer to a scandalous letter lately printed and subscribed by Peter Welsh, procurator for
the sec. and reg. Popish priests of Ireland - London: 1662. 4to. pp. [i], 66. A very good copy in
modern quarter morocco. Wing O 473.
Orrery republishes the letter of Walsh in broadside form and it is possible that this is the only
manner in which, pace the Wing entry W 635A, that this has survived into our time. The original
letter was “given about the end of October 1660, to the then Marquess, now Duke of Ormond”
and Orrery makes a trenchant reply. Sweeney 5517 quoting the Dublin 1st edition.
€100 - €150
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