The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

NEWTON, Isaac (1642-1727). The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy . Translated by Andrew Motte. London: Benjamin Motte, 1729. The first edition in English of the most important work in the history of science: "Perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make" (Einstein). Newton's great work was first translated into English by Andrew Motte, who was brother to the printer and himself a mathematician and natural philosopher—in modern terms, a fellow physicist. He was a lecturer in geometry at Gresham College, London, and the engraver of the frontispieces and headpieces. "Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler had certainly shown the way; but where they described the phenomena they observed, Newton explained the underlying laws" (PMM). In this copy, John Machin's separately paginated work "The Laws of the Moon's Motion," is found at the end of volume one. Babson 20; PMM 161; Norman 1587; Wallis 23. Two volumes, octavo (186 x 110mm). Two engraved frontispieces and 3 headpieces by A. Motte, 47 folding plates on aprons, 2 folding letterpress tables (frontispieces and titles washed, pressed and with trimmed margins). Modern calf gilt to style, morocco lettering- and numbering-pieces. Morocco-edged slipcase.

Estimate:$25,000

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