Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica
Sir Isaac Newton, 1687
Details
Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica
Sir Isaac Newton, 1687
NEWTON, Isaac (1642-1727). Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica. London: Joseph Streater for the Royal Society [at the expense of Edmond Halley], to be sold by various booksellers, 1687.
FIRST EDITION of “the greatest work in the history of science” (PMM); “perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make” (Einstein). With errata leaf and final blank. The Andrade copy.
The Principia elucidates the universal physical laws of gravitation and motion which lie behind phenomena described by Newton’s predecessors Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler. Newton establishes the mathematical basis for the motion of bodies in unresisting space (the law of inertia); the motion of fluids and the effect of friction on bodies moving through fluids; and, most importantly, sets forth the law of universal gravitation and its unifying role in the cosmos. “For the first time a single mathematical law could explain the motion of objects on earth as well as the phenomena of the heavens [...] It was this grand conception that produced a general revolution in human thought, equaled perhaps only by that following Darwin’s Origin of Species” (PMM). Newton’s scientific views were not seriously challenged until Einstein’s theory of relativity and Planck’s quantum theory, but his principles and methods remain essential for the solution of many scientific questions.
Halley encouraged Newton to write the Principia (Newton acknowledges his contribution in the preface) and saw the work through the press, even bearing the cost of printing, since the Royal Society’s funds had been depleted. The printing history of the Principia is well documented, and two issues are distinguished, based on the two states of the title-page: one with a 2-line imprint reading “Prostat apud plures Bibliopolas” (offered by various booksellers), as here, and one with a 3-line imprint naming the bookseller Samuel Smith—reflecting the domestic and foreign distribution respectively. The Andrade copy belongs to the issue for distribution in Britain (two-line imprint), traditionally designated as the first issue; Halley and Newton sold it through a number of unnamed booksellers. The other, smaller, issue was largely turned over to Samuel Smith for distribution on the continent and required a cancel-title (three-line imprint). The edition was divided between two compositors working concurrently, one setting the first two books, the other setting the third. W. Todd has identified a number of stop-press corrections, but they cannot be related to either issue.
Babson 6; Dibner 11; Grolier/Horblit 78 (‘the most influential scientific publication of the seventeenth century’); PMM 161; A.N.L. Munby, ‘The two title-pages of Newton's Principia’ in Notes and Records of the Royal Society 10 (1952); W. Todd's bibliography in Koyré & Cohen's ed. of Newton's Principia II, 851-3; Norman 1586 (3-line imprint title); PMM 161; Wallis 6; Wing N-1048.
Quarto (240 × 185mm). First-state title-page with two-line imprint, uncancelled. Folding engraving of cometary orbit bound after quire 3M, P4 cancel correcting orientation of the diagram on verso, errata leaf inserted before final blank 3O4, numerous woodcut diagrams (occasional light toning and spotting, title a little loose, small hole in 2D4, printing flaw in 2S4 affecting some text, small paper flaw in 3M3). Contemporary mottled calf, paneled and with flower cornerpieces in blind, spine compartments with ornamental frames and central bouquet motif tooled in gold, red sprayed edges (rebacked preserving most of original spine, corners restored).
Sir Isaac Newton, 1687
NEWTON, Isaac (1642-1727). Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica. London: Joseph Streater for the Royal Society [at the expense of Edmond Halley], to be sold by various booksellers, 1687.
FIRST EDITION of “the greatest work in the history of science” (PMM); “perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make” (Einstein). With errata leaf and final blank. The Andrade copy.
The Principia elucidates the universal physical laws of gravitation and motion which lie behind phenomena described by Newton’s predecessors Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler. Newton establishes the mathematical basis for the motion of bodies in unresisting space (the law of inertia); the motion of fluids and the effect of friction on bodies moving through fluids; and, most importantly, sets forth the law of universal gravitation and its unifying role in the cosmos. “For the first time a single mathematical law could explain the motion of objects on earth as well as the phenomena of the heavens [...] It was this grand conception that produced a general revolution in human thought, equaled perhaps only by that following Darwin’s Origin of Species” (PMM). Newton’s scientific views were not seriously challenged until Einstein’s theory of relativity and Planck’s quantum theory, but his principles and methods remain essential for the solution of many scientific questions.
Halley encouraged Newton to write the Principia (Newton acknowledges his contribution in the preface) and saw the work through the press, even bearing the cost of printing, since the Royal Society’s funds had been depleted. The printing history of the Principia is well documented, and two issues are distinguished, based on the two states of the title-page: one with a 2-line imprint reading “Prostat apud plures Bibliopolas” (offered by various booksellers), as here, and one with a 3-line imprint naming the bookseller Samuel Smith—reflecting the domestic and foreign distribution respectively. The Andrade copy belongs to the issue for distribution in Britain (two-line imprint), traditionally designated as the first issue; Halley and Newton sold it through a number of unnamed booksellers. The other, smaller, issue was largely turned over to Samuel Smith for distribution on the continent and required a cancel-title (three-line imprint). The edition was divided between two compositors working concurrently, one setting the first two books, the other setting the third. W. Todd has identified a number of stop-press corrections, but they cannot be related to either issue.
Babson 6; Dibner 11; Grolier/Horblit 78 (‘the most influential scientific publication of the seventeenth century’); PMM 161; A.N.L. Munby, ‘The two title-pages of Newton's Principia’ in Notes and Records of the Royal Society 10 (1952); W. Todd's bibliography in Koyré & Cohen's ed. of Newton's Principia II, 851-3; Norman 1586 (3-line imprint title); PMM 161; Wallis 6; Wing N-1048.
Quarto (240 × 185mm). First-state title-page with two-line imprint, uncancelled. Folding engraving of cometary orbit bound after quire 3M, P4 cancel correcting orientation of the diagram on verso, errata leaf inserted before final blank 3O4, numerous woodcut diagrams (occasional light toning and spotting, title a little loose, small hole in 2D4, printing flaw in 2S4 affecting some text, small paper flaw in 3M3). Contemporary mottled calf, paneled and with flower cornerpieces in blind, spine compartments with ornamental frames and central bouquet motif tooled in gold, red sprayed edges (rebacked preserving most of original spine, corners restored).
Provenance
early manuscript shelfmark and note on upper pastedown, possibly that of:
Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, 1680–1711 (armorial bookplate dated 1703 on title-page verso)
Edward Andrade, British physicist, 1887–1971 (bookplate); sold at
his sale, Sotheby’s, 12 July 1965, lot 371
anonymous owner; sold Sotheby’s, 18 October 1977, lot 300
Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, 1680–1711 (armorial bookplate dated 1703 on title-page verso)
Edward Andrade, British physicist, 1887–1971 (bookplate); sold at
his sale, Sotheby’s, 12 July 1965, lot 371
anonymous owner; sold Sotheby’s, 18 October 1977, lot 300
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