by Francis Bacon

The edition is no longer available to the public. However, collectors are invited to inquire.

“It is not only the difficulty and labor which men take in finding out of truth, nor again that when it is found it imposeth upon men's thoughts, that doth bring lies in favor, but a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself.”

These words, alone, of Francis Bacon’s masterpiece justifies its republication and rereading today. The father of empiricism delivers a cutting assessment on truth and falsehood, and why we sometimes prefer the latter. His concern stems from the cancerous way lies can spread.

While his focus was on public life and politics, his verdict, ultimately, looks elsewhere: “A lie faces god, and shrinks from man.”

No Reply’s second edition was a true private press undertaking. Everything was done by hand, in a single room. The type was set one page at a time and printed on a small tabletop hand-press using Zerkall-bütten paper. The binding is simple – a wrapper from rag pulp handmade specially at the press.

ARTIST NOTES

Francis Bacon was the father of empiricism, the progenitor of the scientific method, and a prolific essayist. A renaissance man, he also served as Lord Chancellor of England and first councilor of Queen Elizabeth I. His interest in truth stemmed, it seemed, from the role truth and falsehood can play in public life – an urgent perspective today.

EDITION NOTES

• The edition is limited to 100 copies, numbered 1 through 100.

• The second imprint of No Reply Press, 2019.

• Set in 13pt Perpetua type, with ornaments by Rockwell Kent.

• Printed by hand on Zerkall-bütten paper using a tabletop hand-press in Portland, Oregon.

• Bound in blue rag wrappers, handmade at the press specially for the edition.

• Some copies housed in a chemise and slipcase, boards lined with Zerkall Ingres and printed letterpress