VOSSIUS, Isaac (1618-1689). De lucis natura et proprietate. Amsterdam, L. & D. Elzevier, 1662. 4o (227 x 174 mm). Woodcut illustrations in text. (Some minor foxing, repaired wormholes in margins of most pages, not affecting text). Contemporary Dutch vellum, gilt panels, edges gilt (outer edge of back cover a little rubbed). FIRST EDITION, LARGE PAPER ISSUE ON HEAVY PAPER. Vossius, born in Leyden and resident in England from 1670, became a canon of the royal chapel at Windsor, despite his philosophical doubts (Charles II is reputed to have remarked of him that he would believe anything if only it were not in the Bible). He was a versatile scholar who published on many subjects including poetry, history and science, including this work, directed against the predominant Cartesianism. It includes the first printed account of Snel's law of refraction of light rays. Snel formulated this law around 1621 after extensive study of Kepler and Risner, and through their works Ibn al-Haytham and Witelo.