[DESCARTES] JOHN EVELYN'S COPY OF AN IMPORTANT WORK IN THE SPREAD OF CARTESIAN PHILOSOPHY. [DESC...

[DESCARTES] JOHN EVELYN'S COPY OF AN IMPORTANT WORK IN THE SPREAD OF CARTESIAN PHILOSOPHY. [DESCARTES, RENE.] LE GRAND, ANTOINE. An Entire Body of Philosophy, according to the Principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes. London: Samuel Roycroft and sold by the Undertaker Richard Blome, 1694. Folio (338 x 220 mm). Engraved frontispiece, and 100 engraved plates by Kip & van der Gucht, after G. Freman and others (1 folding, 3 pp of scientific figures, 5 pp containing 113 heraldic arms). Contemporary panelled calf, rebacked, retaining original spine. Provenance: John Evelyn (1620-1702, contemporary shelfmark, 20th-century bookplate); Sir Fredk Evelyn, Bart (bookplate); William Dailey (collation note signed 'JW,' 1981). JOHN EVELYN'S COPY OF LE GRAND'S INFLUENTIAL EXPOSITION OF CARTESIAN PHILOSOPHY, THE MOST LAVISH PUBLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW SCIENCE OF THE PERIOD. In the later stages of the scientific revolution, proponents of the 'New Science' based on scientific inquiry, experiment, and reason looked for ways to support the spread of the emerging paradigm. This included publishing translations and new works in vernacular language instead of just in Latin. 'Arguably the grandest publication associated with the new science in this period' (Hunter, 'The Crown, the Public and the New Science, 1689-1702,' p 107), An Entire Body of Philosophy, According to the Principles of the Famous Renate Des Cartes, was published in 1694 by Richard Blome. The text incorporates an English translation of Legrand's popular exposition of the Cartesian philosophy Institutio philosophiae secundum Principia D. Renati Descartes which first appeared in 1672, but even before 1694 had been through multiple editions, along with two other translations of Le Grand's work. Blome supplemented it with ornate allegorical engravings, rooted in a classical motif asserting the intrinsic truth and value of these new ideas with dedications to the publication's patrons engraved in the plate, creating one of the most sumptuous scientific publications of the period. John Evelyn, a founding fellow of the Royal Society, was one of the primary exponents of the 'New Science,' and well understood the importance of the transition taking place. Evelyn himself designed the famous frontispiece engraving by Wensceslas Hollar depicting Charles II, William Brougher and Francis Bacon amidst various scientific instruments, which was used for Thomas Sprat's 1667 The History of the Royal-Society of London. Arguably the best-known representation of seventeenth-century English science, the plate and those like it were intended to both celebrate and legitimize the 'new science.' The John Evelyn copy of Le Grand and Blome's exposition of Cartesian thought and the 'new science' is a grand testament to the spread of the scientific revolution and the modern world. The most important and beautiful work on Descartes, from the renowned library of consummate collector John Evelyn. Wing L-950. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing