2 volumes. Unpaginated. Copper-engraved frontispiece portrait + 14 copper-engraved plates, 7 of them folding. (folio) 15¼x9½" (38.7x24 cm.) modern paneled calf in the style of the period, spines tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces. First Edition.

Rare large paper copy of the first edition of the first encyclopedia of science, compiled by the Secretary of the Royal Society. It is also considered the first alphabetical encyclopedia written in English. Harris' Lexicon draws on the work of Sir Isaac Newton, Edmond Halley, Robert Boyle, and many others. Newton has himself made original contributions to this work, most notably his only published work on chemistry ("De natura acidorum" in Vol. II). Newton is listed on the subcription list, and was one of around 35 recipients of a Large Paper copy, as indicated by the asterisk next to his name. These large paper copies are around 6 to 7 cm. taller than regular copies - Vol. I of the Norman copy, for instance, measured 31.4 cm., and Vol. II 32.6. We have not been able to locate any large paper copies in institutional collections, nor of any having sold at auction.