163 - [MANUSCRIPT]. Phisica de Bonne Loye—An 18th-century physics manuscript, written in Latin and illustrated with 45 engraved plates.

[MANUSCRIPT]. Phisica de Bonne Loye—An 18th-century physics manuscript, written in Latin and illustrated with 45 engraved plates. A rare 18th-century physics manuscript, written entirely in Latin, illustrated with 45 beautiful engraved plates, including several portraits of famous figures and 33 plates on physics and astronomy. Large 8vo (17.5 x 23 cm), full brown speckled sheepskin, ribbed spine, panels adorned with gilded fleurons, ochre title label, gilded roulette on the edges (contemporary binding). 4 unnumbered folios, including 2 engraved plates; 536 pages, including 10 engraved plates; 14 blank folios followed by 33 plates of engraved figures (numbered 4 through 37). Binding is scuffed and scratched, with small losses at the top and in the corners, a tiny hole at the bottom, and a few faint foxing spots, mainly in the margins. A rare 18th-century physics manuscript, titled “Phisica de Bonne Loye,” written entirely in Latin in black ink. It is illustrated with 45 engraved plates, 43 of which bear the signature of Guillaume Vallet (1634–1704), engraver to Louis XIV, who was based on Rue Saint-Jacques. Among the plates are an allegory of physics, two portraits of saints (Gregory of Tours, Ambrose of Milan), several medallion portraits of famous figures with a short biographical caption in a dedicated inset (Zeno, Adam, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe (this one ahead of his time), Nicolas Malebranche, Gassendi, John Duns Scotus), an engraving depicting Anthony the Great after Abraham Bloemaert, as well as 33 plates of illustrations showing various instruments used for experiments in physics or mechanics, and several plates on astronomy (including the systems of Copernicus, Ptolemy, and Tycho Brahe). A precious manuscript with a beautiful engraved illustration, securely bound in its period binding.