Gilbert, William

De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, Et De Magno Magnete Tellure;

      Peter Short, 1600. Physiologia nova, plurimus & argumentis, & experimentis demonstrata. Folio (290 × 188 mm). Contemporary calf over wooden boards, metal furniture and clasps; rebacked, one catch missing, covers rubbed. Housed ina black cloth solander box made by The Chelsea Bindery. Woodcut device (McKerrow 119) on title, large woodcut arms on verso, numerous text woodcuts, some full-page, large folding woodcut diagram (lightly browned), historiated woodcut capitals, head-and tailpieces. Provenance: Leiden, Royal Academy (Acad. Lugd. stamp on binding, and ink lettered at top and bottom edges, Publica auctoritate vendidi W.G. Pluym duplicate stamp on title); bookplate of Samuel Verplanck Hoffman (1866–1942), president of the New York Historical Society, member of the Grolier Club, whose important collection of astrolabes was acquired by the Smithsonian in 1959. Lightly browned at beginning and end, a good copy. First Edition of the first major English scientific treatise based on experimental methods of research. Gilbert was chiefly concerned with magnetism; but as a digression he discusses in his second book the attractive effect of amber (electrum), and thus may be regarded as the founder of electrical science. He coined the terms 'electricity, ' 'electric force' and 'electric attraction' (PMM). In Book One Gilbert introduced his new basic idea … that the earth is a gigantic lodestone and thus has magnetic properties while in Book Two, his observations on the amber effect introduced the vocabulary of electrics, and is the basis for Gilbert's place in the history of electricity (DSB). Dibner Heralds of Science 54; Grolier/Horblit 41; Heilbron, pp. 169-179; Norman 905; PMM 107; STC 11883; Wellcome 2830.