Willfsford, Thomas (b. circa 1612) Nature's Secrets. Or, the Admirable and Wonderfull History of the Generation of Meteors.

Description:

Willfsford, Thomas (b. circa 1612) Nature's Secrets. Or, the Admirable and Wonderfull History of the Generation of Meteors. London: Printed for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill, 1658. First edition, octavo, engraved portrait of Willsford at the age of forty-six by Vaughan opposite title (trimmed close at fore-edge),full-page woodcut of a weather glass, or perpetual calendar on page 150; Druce Donation stamp on title; short tear at the top inner gutter of B1, bound in slightly later full leather, rebacked, 6 1/4 x 3 3/4 in.

Willsford discusses astronomy and the four elements in the first section, and then moves on to meteors, comets,and "blazing stars." He cites Tycho Brahe, the Pre-Socratics, Acosta, Cardanus, Pliny, and others. The third part is taken up with weather prediction, in the fourth, prodigious meteors, earthquakes, and diseases.

A-O8, (first signature collation counts portrait frontispiece, perhaps A1 lacking ?blank; final signature contains four leaves of bookseller's ads, listing 84 items available from Nathaniel Brook).
http://estc.bl.uk/R204119
Estimate $2,000-3,000


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