BACON (Sir Francis). The Works. London, A. Millar and [J. and R. Tonson], 1765. 5 vols. in-4° bound in full blond spotted calf, spines ribbed, gilt, red tr. The 5 volumes comprise: 1) Life of Bacon + moral and philosophical works 2) Political works + legal documents 3) Historical and theological writings, correspondence, speeches 4) Novum Organum (Instauratio Magna, parts I-IV) 5) Instauratio Magna (continuation, publications and letters, etc.). A fine edition, revised by Thomas Birch, distinguished by its fine typography, 4 engraved frontispieces, 5 title vignettes and 2 folding tables. An editorial reference of the XVIIIᵉ century, it marks a major step in the reasoned dissemination of Baconnian work. Bessinge Library label Provenance: Bibliothèque Tronchin-Givaudan then by descent to the present owners Good condition Binding : Solid binding Re-stained epidermis on some boards Indentations, stains and scratches on boards Partial loss of the upper cover of vol. 4 and top cover of vol. 5 weakened Wear to some corners and cuts (rubbing or small localized losses at the end of the corners) Inside pages: Clean overall: Title pages often browned due to ink transfer from frontispiece. Rare reversals in page numbering Scattered brown spots, more numerous on some pages of vol. 4 (notably pp 184-189, 212-219, 242-250 and 286) Collation: Vol 1: [6] ff, XLII, [1] f., 575 pp + 1 frontispiece + 1 folding plate between pp. 42-43 Vol 2 : [3] folios, 658 pp. + 1 frontispiece Vol 3 : [6] folios, 681 pp ( I-VI + 7-681), [37] folios (index) + 1 frontispiece Vol 4 : XX, [1] f., 529 pp. + 1 frontispiece + 1 folding plate Vol 5 : VII - 604 pp. Tronchin- Givaudan Library Assembled and preserved by several generations of the Tronchin and Givaudan families, the Tronchin-Givaudan library bears witness to a deep commitment to knowledge, historical awareness and the exceptional. The selection we have the honour of offering at auction highlights a subtle balance between erudition and the art of living. Comprising mainly works from the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, this collection covers more than five centuries of printed production, closely linked to the history of Geneva and the Tronchin family, one of the city's great patrician lineages, now extinct. A number of seventeenth-century titles hark back to the origins of this lineage, notably around the figure of Théodore Tronchin (lot 2567). However, it was in the 18th century, with the acquisition of the Bessinge estate by Jacob Tronchin in 1764, that the collection really took shape. The works, many of which bear the bookplates of Jean Armand Tronchin (1732-1813) and his son Henri (1794-1865), make up a collection faithful to the ideals of the Enlightenment, combining public law, classical humanities, science, travel accounts (lots 2471, 2479, 2554..), major works of 18th-century printing - including the plan of Paris by Turgot (lot 2591) - and rare editions bearing the royal coat of arms, such as those of Madame de Pompadour (lot 2545). At the turn of the 20th century, a new page was turned when Xavier Givaudan (1867-1966), a leading figure in the industrial boom alongside his brother Léon Givaudan (1875-1936) in the fields of synthetic perfume, chemicals and soap, established in Switzerland in 1917, acquired the estate in 1938 after renting it for several years. The library and works have been preserved and in part passed on to his descendants. His brother Léon Givaudan built up a bibliophile collection focusing on Art Deco books, bringing together works sublimated by bindings signed by the great contemporary bookbinders (lots 2606, 2626, 2648, etc.). His library was sold at auction in Paris on 3 June 1988. André Givaudan (1895-1973), Xavier Givaudan's son, also had a particular interest in literature, joining several bibliophile societies and adding a number of modern illustrated books to the collection. All the lots marked in brown in the printed catalogue come from the Tronchin-Givaudan Collection, then by descent to the current owners.