Details
VOLTAIRE, Franois Marie Arouet de (1694-1778). Elmens de la philosophie de Neuton. Amsterdam: Jacques Desbordes, 1738.
8o (214 x 131 mm). Title printed in red and black with engraved vignette, numerous engraved head- and tail-pieces, frontispiece portrait of Newton, portrait of Volatire, 6 engraved plates, engraved folding table, numerous engravings and some woodcut diagrams in text. Early 19th-century red straight-grained morocco, covers gilt with wide gilt roll-tooled borders, smooth spine with gilt compartments, board edges and turn-ins gilt, gilt edges, in the style of Derome le jeune; quarter morocco folding case.
FIRST EDITION of this popularization of Newton's scientific and philosophical ideas. "From 1725 to 1728, Voltaire lived in exile in England and became a fervent admirer of the Newtonian philosophy which he introduced into France. He may have met Newton ... he attended his funeral and knew his niece, Clara Barton Conduitt" (Babson/Newton). It presents Newton as the discoverer of the true system of the world and the destoyer of the errors of Cartesianism. The text is preceded by both a poem and dedication to Volatire's mistress, the brilliant Marquise du Ch[telet], who likewise studied Newton and provided the first French translation of the Principia (1759).
The Norman copy is a variant issue of this edition, with the Desbordes imprint and several text variations. "Both versions contain only twenty-five chapters, as Voltaire did not supply either publisher with a complete manuscript" (Norman). A twenty-sixth chapter on fluxions was added to the "nouvelle" edition published in Paris the same year (see lot 844). Babson/Newton; Wallis 155; Norman 2165.
8o (214 x 131 mm). Title printed in red and black with engraved vignette, numerous engraved head- and tail-pieces, frontispiece portrait of Newton, portrait of Volatire, 6 engraved plates, engraved folding table, numerous engravings and some woodcut diagrams in text. Early 19th-century red straight-grained morocco, covers gilt with wide gilt roll-tooled borders, smooth spine with gilt compartments, board edges and turn-ins gilt, gilt edges, in the style of Derome le jeune; quarter morocco folding case.
FIRST EDITION of this popularization of Newton's scientific and philosophical ideas. "From 1725 to 1728, Voltaire lived in exile in England and became a fervent admirer of the Newtonian philosophy which he introduced into France. He may have met Newton ... he attended his funeral and knew his niece, Clara Barton Conduitt" (Babson/Newton). It presents Newton as the discoverer of the true system of the world and the destoyer of the errors of Cartesianism. The text is preceded by both a poem and dedication to Volatire's mistress, the brilliant Marquise du Ch[telet], who likewise studied Newton and provided the first French translation of the Principia (1759).
The Norman copy is a variant issue of this edition, with the Desbordes imprint and several text variations. "Both versions contain only twenty-five chapters, as Voltaire did not supply either publisher with a complete manuscript" (Norman). A twenty-sixth chapter on fluxions was added to the "nouvelle" edition published in Paris the same year (see lot 844). Babson/Newton; Wallis 155; Norman 2165.