THE PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS AND COLLECTIONS, [FROM THE YEAR 1665, TO THE YEAR 1750] ABRIDGED AND DISPOS'D UNDER GENERAL HEADS. (A complete set of first editions contemporaneously bound in 11 volumes). by (Royal Society: Newton, Isaac; Halley, Edmond; Herschel, William; Middleton, Capt. Christopher; et al.). Lowthrop, John; Motte, Benjamin; Reid, Andrew; Gray, John; Martyn, John (editors) - [1705].

London: Bennet, Knaplock, Wilkin, et al, 1705 through 1756. [1705]., [1705].. Good. A COMPLETE SET OF FIRST EDITIONS OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, ABRIDGED, PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPER PLATE ENGRAVINGS, MANY FOLDING, INCLUDING THE RARE KINO MAP OF CALIFORNIA - Quarto, 9-1/2 inches high by 7-3/8 inches wide. Eleven volumes uniformly bound in paneled brown mottled calf with gilt decorated panels between raised bands and red leather title labels on the spines. The leather covers are heavily rubbed and scuffed with wear to the corners and extremities. The heads and tails of the spines are chipped and the leather is split and worn along the spines. The front and rear hinges of most volumes are split but holding by the cords, though the rear cover of the seventh volume and the front cover of the eighth volume are detached and the front blank of the eighth volume is loose. A substantial set illustrated with 272 copper plate engravings & maps, mostly folding, and 7 tables and charts, all but one folding. The set is also enhanced with elaborate engraved head-pieces and initials. Included among the plates is the rare Kino map of California entitled "A Passage by Land to California Discover'd by the Rev. Father Eusebius Francis Kino Jesuite between ye years 1698 and 1701", the first map to accurately depict the region. Another significant map is Thomas Shaw's map of the Kingdom of Tunis, entitled "To the Honourable Sr. Hans Sloane Bart. President of the Royal Society &c. This Map of the Kingdom of Tunis is with all Respect dedicated by his most obedient and humble Servant. Thomas Shaw. Algier July 7th 1729". This map preceded a subsequent variant which Thomas Shaw published in his 1738 book "Travels in Barbary and the Levant". E.W. Stackhouse's attractive armorial bookplate is mounted on the front pastedown of each volume. A couple of front endpapers are detached. Otherwise, except for minor flaws noted in the elaborate description which follows, the contents are in remarkably bright condition with crisply printed text and strong impressions of the profuse copper engraved plates.

A complete set, all first editions.

These first editions of the exhaustive publications of the Royal Society's "Philosophical Transactions" are here published, complete, in 11 volumes. These volumes covering the transactions of the Society from 1665 to 1750 were published in 4 different printings published from 1705 through 1756, enumerated below:

"The Philosophical Transactions and Collections, to the End of the Year 1700. Abridged and Dispos'd under General Heads. In Three Volumes. By John Lowthorp, M.A. and F.R.S.". London: Bennet, Knaplock, Wilkin, 1705. The first volume containing "The Mathematical Papers" collates as follows: [8] pages, pages 1-454, pages 543-708, and [47] pages. Complete with page numbers skipped as published. This volume is illustrated with 7 folding copper plate engravings. The second volume contains "The Physiological Papers" which collate as follows: [4] pages, and pages 1-915, illustrated with 14 folding copper plate engravings. There is marginal worming to the first 30 pages, not touching the text. The third volume, in two parts: "The First Containing all the Anatomical Medical and Chymical, And the Second all the Philological and Miscellaneous Papers" collates as follows: [4] pages, pages 1-[372], 373-688, and [19] pages, illustrated with 12 folding copper plate engravings. There are tears in pages 475 though 479 without loss.

"The Philosophical Transactions From the Year MDCC. (Where Mr. Lowthorp ends) To the Year MDCCXX. Abridg'd and Dispos'd under General Heads. In Two Volumes. By Benj. Motte". London: Printed for R. Wilkin, R. Robinson, S. Ballard, W. and J. Innys, and J. Osborn, 1721. Part 1, representing volume 4 of this set, containing "The Mathematical Papers" collates as follows: [2] leaves, pages [i]-viii, [20] pages, pages [1]-256, 225-432, and [1]-228 (misnumbered as published), illustrated with 16 copper plate engravings, including 14 folding, and 3 tables, including 2 folding. Part 2, representing volume 5 of this set, collates as follows: [4] pages, pages 1-399, [1] page, pages [1]-265, and [6] pages. This volume is illustrated with 42 copper plate engravings, including 32 folding (plates 1 & 2 of the first section are on the same sheet). Two significant maps are among the copper plate engravings contained within this volume. Opposite page 196 of the second part, is found the folding map entitled "A Map of the New Philippine Islands" engraved by A. Johnson. Opposite the description of California which begins on page 211 of the second part, is found the rare Kino map entitled "A Passage by Land to California Discover'd by the Rev. Father Eusebius Francis Kino Jesuite between ye years 1698 and 1701". The edges of plate 14, opposite page 356, are creased.

The first map to accurately depict the region, Father Kino's map disproved the theory that California was an island. A Jesuit missionary, the cartographer Eusebio Francisco Kino had initially accepted the common European misconception that California was an island. Once in Mexico, he undertook a series of overland expeditions from northern Sonora to areas near the Colorado River's delta in an effort to provide easier routes between the Jesuit missions in Sonora and Baha California. Kino became convinced that a land connection existed and his report and 1701 map showing California as a peninsula were sent to Europe. An important English version of the map was published in the "Philosophical Transactions...." The map, an accurate depiction of the lower California region, shows the correct positions of the Colorado River, the Gila River, the Sonoran Desert and a large section of what would later become Arizona.

"The Philosophical Transactions (From the Year 1720, to the Year 1732) Abridged and Disposed under General Heads. By Mr. Reid and John Gray, A.M.F.R.S. Vol. VI. Containing Part I. The Mathematical Papers. Part II. The Physiological Papers. Part III. The Anatomical and Medical Papers. Part IV. The Philological and Miscellaneous Papers." London: Printed for William Innys and Richard Manby, Printers to the Royal Society, at the West End of St. Paul's, 1733. This 6th volume is here bound into 2 volumes. The first, comprising volume 6 of this set, containing Part I, "The Mathematical Papers" collates as follows: [16] leaves and pages [1]-400, illustrated with 12 folding copper plate engravings, including a folding plate of Hadley's telescope opposite page 152, a folding table, and a large folding map of Tunis by Thomas Shaw (Algier July 7th, 1729) appearing opposite page 382. The inner edge of the map is creased. There is a tear to page 137 with no loss. Parts 2, 3, and 4 of volume six are here bound into volume 7 of this set, with it's own title page. The collation for this volume is as follows: [1] leaf, pages 1-252, pages [1]-332, pages [1]-76, and [8] pages. This volume is illustrated with 14 copper plate engravings and a folding table. There is minor worming to the last 16 pages, just touching on an occasional letter.

Thomas Shaw's map of the Kingdom of Tunis "To the Honourable Sr. Hans Sloane Bart. President of the Royal Society &c. This Map of the Kingdom of Tunis is with all Respect dedicated by his most obedient and humble Servant. Thomas Shaw. Algier July 7th 1729" preceded it's subsequent publication in Shaw's 1738 book "Travels in Barbary and the Levant". The English cleric and cartographer Thomas Shaw went to Queens College, in Oxford. After entering the order, he was appointed Chaplain in Algiers. He drew his map of Tunis during his stay and, elected a member of the Royal Society upon his return, published his map.

The Supplement entitled "The Philosophical Transactions (For the Year 1732) Abridged: Being a Supplement to Mr. Reid's and Mr. Gray's Abridgment". London: Printed for W. Innys in Pater-noster-row, and R. Manby and H.S. Cox on Ludgate-Hill, 1747, is bound in at the front of volume 8 of this set. The pagination to this supplement is as follows: [4] pages, pages [1]-107, and [1] page, illustrated with 6 folding copper-plate engravings. The contents of this supplement include a meteorological account of an eruption of Mount Vesuvius by Nicholas Cyrillus; an account of observations made on board the Chatham Yacht for a trial of an instrument for taking angles by John Hadley in 1732; and Alexander Stuart, M.D.'s article on experiments to prove the existence of a fluid in the nerves.

Bound into this eighth volume following the supplement are the first parts of "The Philosophical Transactions (From the Year 1732, to the Year 1744) Abridged, and Disposed under General Heads, The Latin Papers being translated into English. By John Martyn, F.R.S. Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge. In Two Volumes. Viz. Vol. VIII. Containing, Part I. The Mathematical Papers. Part II. The Physiological Papers. Vol IX. Containing, Part III. The Anatomical and Medical Papers. Part IV. The Historical and Miscellaneous Papers." London: Printed for W. Innys, C. Hitch, T. Astley in Pater-noster-Row, T. Woodward, C. Davis in Holbourn, and R. Manby and H.S. Cox on Ludgate Hill, 1747. The first 2 parts, as described in the title, are here bound into volume 8 of this set following the Supplement. The collation is as follows: pages [i]-xxviii, [1] leaf, pages [1]-376, [1] leaf, pages [377]-847, illustrated with 32 folding copper plate engravings and 2 folding charts. The 2 charts are observations of latitude, variation of the magnetic needle, and weather made by Captain Christopher Middleton during voyages made from London to Hudson's Bay in 1731 and 1735. The third and fourth parts, as described in the title, are bound in volume 9 of this set and collates as follows: [1] leaf, pages [1]-503, and [25] pages, illustrated with 29 folding copper plate engravings, including a folding view of "Par Bay", Cornwall opposite page 454. A letter from Rev. John Clayton to Dr. Grew relating to Virginia in 1687 is published on pages 465 through 475 of this volume. There is a tear to page 341 without loss and early ink notes are penned on pages 486 through 490.

"The Philosophical Transactions (From the Year 1743, to the Year 1750) Abridged, and Disposed under General Heads. The Latin Papers being translated into English. By John Martyn, F.R.S. Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge. Volume the Tenth. Containing, Part I. The Mathematical Papers. Part II. The Physiological Papers. Part III. The Anatomical and Medical Papers. Part IV. The Historical and Miscellaneous Papers." London: Printed for Lockyer Davis and Charles Reymers, against Gray's-Inn-Gate, Holborn, Printers to the Royal-Society, 1756. The first 2 parts of this 10th volume, The Mathematical Papers and The Physiological Papers, bound in volume 10 of this set collate as follows: pages [i]-xxviii, and pages [1]-797, illustrated with 37 folding copper plate engravings including a folding plate of an Equatorial Telescope built by James Short. The last 2 parts, The Anatomical and Medical Papers and The Historical and Miscellaneous Papers, bound into volume 11 of this set, collate as follows: [1] page, pages [798]-1393, and [15] pages, illustrated with 50 folding copper plate engravings. "The Crounian Lectures on Muscular Motion" by James Parsons published on pages 1114 through 1205 are illustrated with 8 plates. A superb copper plate engraving of "The Opah or King Fish" is engraved opposite page 880. A copper plate illustrating Siamese Twins, with details showing their development in the womb, is engraved opposite page 1216. Two copper plates, including a map and a survey of Roman Works in Yorkshire where Delgovitia may have been are bound opposite page 1254. These plates are respectively entitled "A Map of Part of Yorkshire: with the Roman Roads leading to and from Delgovitia" and "A Survey of the Roman Works in Yorkshire where the Ancient Town of Delgovitia is supposed to have stood". Though it's location is unknown, several scholars have postulated various locations for the ancient Romano-British town of Delgovitia (Delgovicia) which was mentioned by the geographer of Ravenna and which is also mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary as being east of Eboracum (Roman York). There is minor worming in the lower margins of pages 1353 to the end of this volume, touching on a very few letters.

As stated by The Royal Society: "In 1662, the newly formed 'Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge' was granted a charter to publish by King Charles II and on 6 March 1665, the first issue of Philosophical Transactions was published under the visionary editorship of Henry Oldenburg, who was also the Secretary of the Society. The first volumes of what was the world's first scientific journal were very different from today's journal, but in essence it served the same function; namely to inform the Fellows of the Society and other interested readers of the latest scientific discoveries. As such, Philosophical Transactions established the important principles of scientific priority and peer review, which have become the central foundations of scientific journals ever since...."