by the society's librarian

First edition of the first substantial history of the Royal Society as an organisation.

Though he studied for the law, Charles Richard Weld (1813-1869) became Assistant Secretary and Librarian to the Royal Society in 1845. He remained in the post for sixteen years and was encouraged to undertake historical research by senior secretary Peter Mark Roget (of Thesaurus fame). On his resignation in 1861 Weld became a partner in a successful publishing firm with the naturalist Lovell Reeve, and was also responsible for the philosophical department of the 1862 International Exhibition in London. Though he wrote a number of travelogues and other works, this is his most important publication.

First edition; 2 volumes, 8vo (21 x 13 cm); frontispiece to each volume and 1 plate in volume I, 4 full-page illustrations, some engravings within the text, near-contemporary gift inscription to the front blank of volume I, a little spotting to the blanks and titles, offsetting from the plates, small spot of dampstain affecting the corner of a few early leaves in volume I, but overall the contents clean and fresh; contemporary tan calf, spine elaborately gilt in compartments, red and green morocco labels, double gilt fillets, marbled endpapers and edges, red silk bookmarks, boards just a little rubbed with a few minor scuffs, morocco labels faded, a very good set; 527 & 611 pp.