![MONTUCLA, Jean Etienne and Joseph-Jérôme Lefranais de LA LANDE. Histoire des Mathématiques. Paris: [1799-1802]. 4 vols., 4°, engraved portrait frontispieces of the two authors, 45 folding engraved plates, old grey paper laid over original blue wrappers (chipped), uncut. Second edition.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2000/CSK/2000_CSK_08643_0433_000(124147).jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The first edition of Montucla's work appeared in 1758 in 2 volumes. Montucla died in 1799 during the printing of the third volume of this enlarged edition, and the work was completed by Lalande who had been his friend from childhood. It is the first classical history of mathematics.