Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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Wikipedia
Micrographia is a historical book by Robert Hooke, detailing the then twenty-eight year-old Hooke's observations through various lenses. Published September, 1664, it was an immediate best-seller. Hooke most famously describes a fly's eye and a plant cell (where he coined that term because plant cells, which are walled, reminded him of a monk's quarters). Known for its spectacular copperplate engravings of the miniature world, particularly its fold-out plates of insects, the text itself reinforces the tremendous power of the new microscope. The plates of insects fold out to be larger than the large folio itself, the engraving of the louse in particular folding out to four times the size of the book. Although the book is most known for foregrounding the power of the microscope, Micrographia also describes distant planetary bodies, the wave theory of light, the organic origin of fossils, and various other philosophical and scientific interests of its author. Published under the aegis of The Royal Society, the popularity of the book helped further the society's image and mission of being "the" scientifically progressive organization of London. Micrographia also focused attention on the miniature world, capturing the public's imagination in a radically new way. This impact is illustrated by Samuel Pepys' reaction upon completing the tome: "the most ingenious book that I ever read in my life."
 Hooke's microscope. |
[edit] Bibliography
- Robert Hooke. "Micrographia: or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses". London: J. Martyn and J. Allestry, 1665. (first edition).
[edit] External links
1893 text
“Micrographia: or some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London, 1665,” a very remarkable work with elaborate plates, some of which have been used for lecture illustrations almost to our own day. On November 23rd, 1664, the President of the Royal Society was “desired to sign a licence for printing of Mr. Hooke’s microscopical book.” At this time the book was mostly printed, but it was delayed, much to Hooke’s disgust, by the examination of several Fellows of the Society. In spite of this examination the council were anxious that the author should make it clear that he alone was responsible for any theory put forward, and they gave him notice to that effect. Hooke made this clear in his dedication (see Birch’s “History,” vol. i., pp. 490-491)
Annotations
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Hooke, Robert, 1635-1703.
Micrographia: or Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. With observations and inquiries thereupon. By R. Hooke, Fellow of the Royal Society.
London : printed by Jo. Martyn, and Ja. Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, and are to be sold at their shop at the Bell in S. Paul’s Church-yard, MDCLXV. [1665]
[36], 246, [10] p., I-XV, XVII-XXXVIII leaves of plates (some folded) ;
2⁰. Title page in red and black with a preliminary order to print and ten final contents leaves.
Wing (CD-ROM, 1996), H2620Pepys’ copy now PL 2116. A full description of the binding was published in Howard Nixon’s catalog of the bindings in the Pepys’ Library. L&M note “Pepys later had it embellished with an index and marginal notes in the hand of an amanuensis.”
The edition was reprinted in 1667.