Dr. William Gilbert

De Magnete
Printed in 1600 CE

An amazing work full of fascinating methods, insights and conclusions. This work carefully studies magnets ("loadstones") and even discusses that giant magnet 'The Earth!'

It also includes comparisons of similarities and differences between magnetic and electric effects.

Full wikisource Page

(:includeSite http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/On_the_Magnet?printable=yes:)