197 - Magalotti, Lorenzo. Essays on Natural Experiments Conducted at the Accademia del Cimento. Florence, Cocchini, 1666. First edition, one of the rare copies from the first printing dated 1666

Magalotti, Lorenzo. Essays on Natural Experiments Conducted at the Accademia del Cimento. Florence, Cocchini, 1666. First edition, one of the rare copies from the first printing dated 1666 Magalotti, Lorenzo. Essays on Natural Experiments Conducted at the Accademia del Cimento. Florence, Cocchini, 1666. Folio (343 x 230 mm); [30], 269, [3] pages. Portrait of Ferdinand II, vignette on the title page, 16 headpieces and 16 tailpieces, 75 full-page copperplate engravings of scientific instruments such as barometers, thermometers, pendulums, and spheres, illustrating various experiments (a few stains; some pages slightly yellowed). Modern binding in the style of the period, covers with gilt fillets and friezes at the corners, spine with raised bands and various gilt friezes. The famous Academy, founded by Prince Leopold in 1657 and modeled after the Roman Accademia dei Lincei, brought together some of the most distinguished Italian scientists of the period for about a decade, including Viviani, Borelli, Redi, and Cassini. Together they conducted experiments of considerable importance on atmospheric pressure, the propagation of sound and light, the freezing of liquids, magnetic phenomena, etc., as described by Magalotti, secretary of the Academy. It was on the basis of these two examples that, a few years later, the Royal Society of London, the Académie des Sciences of Paris, and, gradually, other scientific academies were founded. Original edition, one of the rare first issues dated 1666