BOYLE, Robert (1627-1691). Boyle's Tracts 1674. First Edition.

London: Printed by E. Flesher for R. Davis bookseller in Oxford, MDCLXXIV. [1674]., 1673.

Tracts consisting of observations about the saltness of the sea: an account of a statical hygroscope and its uses: together with an appendix about the force of the air's moisture: a fragment about the natural and preternatural state of bodies / by the Honourable Robert Boyle. To all which is premis'd a sceptical dialogue about the positive or privative nature of cold: with some experiments of Mr. Boyl's referr'd to in that discourse. By a member of the Royal Society.


6 unnumbered pages, 51 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 6 pages, 2 unnumbered pages, 5 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 11 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 39 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 5 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 11 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 27 pages, 3 unnumbered pages, 14 pages.

Text divided into sections with individual numbering, sections titles are; Of the positive or privative nature of cold: a sceptical dialogue between Carmeades, Themistius, Eleutherius, Philoponus -- Two problems about cold, grounded on new experiments, and proposed in a letter to a friend / by the honourable Robert Boyle -- An attempt to manifest and measure the great expansive force of freezing water / by the honourable Robert Boyle -- A new experiment about the production of cold by the conflict of bodies, appearing to make an ebullition / by the honourable Robert Boyle -- Observations and experiments about the saltness of the sea / by the honourable Robert Boyle -- The fourth section belonging to the tract formerly publish'd under the title, Relations about the bottom of the sea / by the honourable Robert Boyle -- A paradox of the natural and preternatural state of bodies, especially in the air / by the honourable Robert Boyle -- A statical hygroscope proposed to be further tryed, together with a brief account of the utilities of hygroscopes / by the honourable Robert Boyle, Fellow of the Royal Society -- A new experiment and other instances of the efficacy of the air's moisture: subjoyn'd by way of appendix to his statical hygroscope / by the honourable Robert Boyle.

Sections, “A statical hygroscope" and "A new experiment and other instances of the efficacy of the air's moisture" each have special title pages dated 1673.

Bound in mottled blind stamped leather, black leather spine label with gilt title.


H: 7 W: 4 1/2 in.

Fair. Spine and hinges repaired, edges rubbed and corners rubbed and bumped, considerable browning and foxing throughout, some water damage to head of text at signature K2 and beyond, trimmed close to text. Title page with tear but no loss to text. With some notations in ink on rear free endpaper and rear pastedown.