Records

Bacon F (1645). Franc. Baconis de Verulamio / Summi Angliae Cancellarii /Novum organum scientiarum. [Francis Bacon of St. Albans Lord Chancellor of England. A 'New Instrument' for the sciences] Lugd. Bat: apud Adrianum Wiingaerde, et Franciscum Moiardum. Aphorism XLVI (pages 45-46).

The two pillars are the Pillars of Hercules, beyond which lies the ocean of the unexplored.  The ship approaches the Pillars, the limits of current knowledge.

The Latin in the scroll under the picture:  Multi pertransibunt & augebitur scientia means 

‘Many shall pass through and knowledge will be increased’

The first edition containing the Novum Organum, published in 1620, has the same image but in the title there is ‘Instauratio Magna’ and not ‘Novum Organum’. The Novum Organum formed part of the uncompleted Instauratio.

Image From the copy in the Library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.