Micrographia
by Robert Hooke
Micrographia is Robert Hooke's illustrated account of what he saw through the microscope, printed in London by John Martyn and James Allestry in January 1665. It was the Royal Society's first major publication, became a scientific best-seller and gave biology the term cell.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First published
- John Martyn and James Allestry (for the Royal Society), London, 1665
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Printed by J. Martyn and J. Allestry1665 Hardback I own Micrographia, Printed by J. Martyn and J. Allestry 1665 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 25 on Open Library, 21 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 19 languages
- Free to read
- Project Gutenberg (out of copyright in the US)
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of Micrographia are there?
We track 1 edition of Micrographia. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was Micrographia first published?
Micrographia by Robert Hooke was first published in 1665.
Can I read Micrographia for free?
Yes: the text is out of copyright in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg. Collectors still pay for the first edition, which is the physical object, not the words.
Where these facts come from
- Micrographia, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Micrographia, Science History Institute Digital Collections (digital.sciencehistory.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 23 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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