Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
Precious copy of Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1643-1727) in its elegant contemporary vellum with a spine decorated in gilt grotesque design.
In-4° (28), 484, (8) pp. Title printed in red and black with an engraved vignette, engraved folding plate of the cometary orbit facing p. 465; woodcut text diagrams throughout.
Ivory vellum, smooth spine decorated with gilt grotesque ornamentation, marbled edges, occasional foxing. Contemporary binding.
245 x 198 mm.
Newton, Isaac (1643-1727). Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
Amstelodami (Amsterdam) Sumptibus Societatis, 1714.
First Amsterdam reprint of the substantial second edition and “a fine example of bookmaking” (Macomber-Babson).
Isaac Newton’s (1643-1727) “Principia Mathematica” is considered “the greatest work in the history of science.” The “Principia” provided the grand synthesis of the cosmos, ultimately proving its physical unity. Newton showed that the major and dramatic aspects of nature that were subject to the universal law of gravitation could be explained mathematically within a single physical theory. [… ] The same laws of gravitation and motion prevailed everywhere; [… ]
This grand concept sparked a general revolution in human thought, matched perhaps only by what followed Darwin’s “Origin of the Species” [… ] The second edition of “Principia” was not published until 1713” (“Printing and the Mind of Man” #161).
The second edition of the Principia, shown here in this rare first Amsterdam reprint from 1714, was revised by Newton himself to strengthen his arguments. This was necessary partly because over 20 years had passed since the first edition was released, during which new research had emerged and new comets had been discovered.
Newton continually revised the Principia, which, during the long interval until the second edition, circulated only in manuscript. First published in Cambridge in the previous year, the second edition is the first to include the Scholium generale, and contains substantial additions, especially to the chapters on lunar theory and the theory of comets. The German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) had published theories very close to Newton’s, which forced Newton to sharpen his arguments, and so this edition was also prefaced by Newton’s editor Roger Cotes with a lengthy anti-Leibnizian introduction.
“Newton’s masterwork was elaborated and brought to its final form in an incredibly short period. His approach was to develop the subject of general dynamics from a mathematical viewpoint in book I, and then to apply his most important results to astronomical and physical problems in book III. Book II, [… ] is almost independent, and seems extraneous. [… ]
One of the most significant consequences of Newton’s analysis is that it must be one and the same law of force that operates in the centrally directed acceleration of the planetary bodies (toward the sun) and of satellites (toward planets), and that governs the linear downward acceleration of freely falling bodies. This force of universal gravitation is also shown to be responsible for the tides, through the action of the sun and moon on the seas.” (DSB).
Light foxing as is typical for this edition but a very beautiful, large-margined copy preserved in its very elegant original period ivory vellum, the spine decorated with gilt grotesque motifs.
