De Vita et Moribus Epicuri Libri Octo.
Woodcut printer's device on title & one engraved plate with a port. of Epicurus. 4 leaves, 5-236, [18] pp. 4to, cont. French sheep (head & foot of spine neatly repaired, several signatures lightly browned), single gilt fillet round sides, spine richly gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Lyons: G. Barbier, 1647.
First edition of an important book; this life of Epicurus, which emphasized his philosophy of physics, was the foundation of Gassendi's Epicurean atomism. His atomic theory was applied to chemistry by Boyle and adopted by Newton in his new mechanical philosophy.
"Before Galileo and Descartes had succeeded in combining... More