A History of Magic and Experimental Science. Volumes VII and VIII: The 17th Century ( 2 Volumes ).
New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1964. Second printing. Hardcovers, Two Volumes. Large Octavos, Vol. VII x + 694pp, Vol. VIII viii + 808pp, Original green cloth, gilt titles, etc. to spine, blind stamp emblems on front boards. Part of Thorndike's eight volume set, these two volumes are complete in themselves - covering the entire 17th Century. As such they deal largely with hermetica, alchemy, and the relationship between the occult and philosophy and the sciences, as can be seen by the chapter headings: Vol. VII: 1. Backward Glances 2. Kepler and Galileo 3. Their Contemporaries 4. Francis Bacon 5. Astrology to 1650 6. Alchemy and Iatro Chemistry to 1650 7. Daniel Sennert 8. Van Helmont : Spiritual Science and Mystic Medicine 9. Mineralogy 10. Natural Magic 11. Discussion of Magic in Portugal and Spain 12. Interest in the Occult at German Universities 13. The Cursus Philiosophicus on Physicus Before Decartes 14. Mersenne and Gassendi 15. The Scotist Revival 16. Morin's Astrolgia Gallica 17. Drebbel and Digby 18. Harvey and Patin 19. Decartes 20. The Underground World of Kircher and Becher 21. Artificial Magic and Technology 22. Huygens 23. Physics and Astronomy after Decartes. Volume VIII: 17th Century: 24. Natural History Especially of Animals 25. Botany 26. Pharmacy 27. Chemical Courses and Manuals 28. Robert Boyle 29. Other Exponents of Experimentation 30. Academies and Scientific Societies 31. Miscellaneous and Popular Science 32. Astrology after 1650 33. Alchemy and Chemistry After 1650 34. Medicine and Physiology 35. Physiognomy 36. Divination 37. Mental Disease and Magic 39. Sir Isaac Newton 40. The Last Decade. General Index. Index of Manuscripts. Both volumes sound, bright and unmarked in original glassine jackets. The jackets - which were only meant to provide temporary protection, and then be discarded, are chipped and discolored - one has a large tear that has been visibly closed with tissue tape). But they have served their purpose and the books are in Fine condition. Item #24429
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