BROWNE, Sir Thomas. Edited by Robin Robbins.

Sir Thomas Browne's Pseudodoxia Epidemica: Or, Enquiries Into Commonly Presumed Truths, Volume I [&] Volume II ( 2 Volume Set ).

Oxford, UK / New York: Oxford University Press, 1981. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Octavos. Two volumes (complete set, consecutively paginated). Volume I: Text, lxii + 640pp. Volume II: Commentary and Appendices: vi + 641-1198pp. Matching deep grey cloth with blind borders to covers, silver titling to spines, pale blue endpapers. A critical edition of Browne's massive work in which he sought to challenge and refute popular misconceptions and superstitions that had accrued around all fields of learning of his age including topics such as astronomy, biology, folklore, geography, history, natural history, philology, science, and medicine. First published in 1646, it went through numerous edition and is regarded as a major important step in the evolution of the 17th-century scientific revolution. Sir Thomas Browne (1605 – 1682) "was an English polymath and author of varied works which reveal his wide learning in diverse fields including science and medicine, religion and the esoteric." Just a hint of light shelfwear, top edges of text blocks a bit darkened and foxed, previous owner's bookplate on the front pastedown of each set. Overall, a well-kept, bright, solid, clean set. Near-Fine in VG+ dust jackets. (Dust jackets lightly rubbed at edges, and with a couple of tiny tears. Price clipped. Now protected by removable mylar covers). Item #72081
ISBN: 0198127065

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