BACON, Francis. The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the proficience and advancement of Learning, divine and humane. London: Henrie Tomes, 1605. First edition, small 4to (161 x 102mm.) Woodcut initials to both parts, contemporary manuscript provenance to title, some underlining, near contemporary manuscript notes to last text leaf. (Front blank repaired, small, closed hole to title, lacking the two errata leaves, as often, rear blank replaced, browning, several leaves with headline trimmed, last ten leaves (Eee4-Hhh2) with corners chewed, a few words per leaf affected.) Early 19th century full brown calf (lightly rubbed, lettering piece lacking). Note: contains all the pagination errors noted by Pforzheimer as common to all copies, and also the first of his additional variant errors (leaf 3 unnumbered). The only book published in Bacon’s lifetime. Provenance: Thomas Dorrington (ink name inscribed to front blank, dated 1838); John Barratt (armorial bookplate to front pastedown); ‘Mr. Malleson’ (ink gift inscription on bookplate, dated 1877). [Pforzheimer.]