SPRAT, Thomas (1635-1713) - photo 1
SPRAT, Thomas (1635-1713) - photo 2
SPRAT, Thomas (1635-1713) - photo 3

SPRAT, Thomas (1635-1713)

Lot 99
09.07.2025 10:30UTC +01:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1450428
Lot 99 | SPRAT, Thomas (1635-1713)
Estimate value
£ 6 000 – 8 000
SPRAT, Thomas (1635-1713)
The History of the Royal-Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge. London: Printed by T[homas] R[oycroft] for J. Martyn at the Bell without Temple-Bar, and J. Allestry at the Rose and Crown in Duck-Lane, Printers to the Royal Society, 1667.
The dedication copy on large paper, bound for King Charles II, founder of the Royal Society. This is a highly significant work in the history of science. It may be best interpreted, not as a strictly factual history, but rather as a piece of public relations and advocacy for the newly founded Royal Society. It aimed to defend the Society against critics, promote its methods, and present it as beneficial to both the nation and humanity. The book tries to give the Society a thoroughly British foundation by repeatedly invoking Francis Bacon as the intellectual forefather of the Royal Society, and suppressing important Continental contributions. The frontispiece visually underscores this by featuring Bacon alongside King Charles II and the Society’s president, symbolizing the Society’s roots in both royal patronage and Baconian philosophy. In doing so, Sprat sought to reassure religious and political authorities that the Society’s activities were not subversive, but rather aligned with broader social and national interests. ESTC R16577; Norman 1989; Wing S5032.

Quarto (235 x 178mm). Imprimatur leaf A1 with engraved arms of the Royal Society on the verso, engraved allegorical frontispiece by Wencelaus Hollar depicting the crowning of a bust of Charles II flanked by mathematician Lord Viscount William Brouncker and Sir Francis Bacon, two engraved folding plates facing pages 173 and 233 with croners specially rounded, woodcut initials, letterpress tables, errata leaf 3I4 at end (a few tiny rust-holes sometimes affecting a couple of letters, some occasional light spotting and browning, leaves E2, G1, H2, leaf K3 with small marginal area srewngthened with old paper). Contemporary red morocco, presumably by Samuel Mearne, covers with outer border of gilt double fillets enclosing central compartment panelled by triple gilt fillets with Charles II's cipher ‘CC’ crowned and wreathed at each outer corner, spine with raised bands in seven compartments lettered in the second with the others repeating Charles's cipher, the board edges gilt with a floriated roll, plain endpapers, edges gilt (foot of spine expertly repaired, extremities slightly rubbed, a few old scratches on lower cover, one flyleaf loose, marginal offsetting to endpapers from turn-ins). Provenance: Charles II (binding) – R. Graham (engraved armorial bookplate lettered with his cursive cipher RG) – Charles Chauncey, M.D. (engraved armorial bookplate) – Howard C. Levis (engraved armorial bookplate; sold to:) – The Rosenbach Company, Booksellers (1929, its stock-number 140/28 on the upper pastedown and again in the gutter of page 23; the Rosenbach Pepys-Evelyn catalogue Free Library, 1933, [Arno no. 59], p. 2) – Raymond and Elizabeth Hartz (sale, Sotheby's New York, 12 December 1991, lot 150, bought by Bernard Quartich on behalf of:) – Robert S. Pirie (1934-2015, lawyer and book collector; bookplate, sold:) – Sotheby’s New York, 2 December 2015, lot 83).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.07.2025 – 09.07.2025
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
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