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Details
COLLINS, John (1625-1683). Commercium epistolicum D. Johannis Collins, et aliorum de analysi promota. London: Pearson, for the Royal Society, 1712.
First edition, presentation copy to Nicolas Bernoulli, of the work which established Newton’s priority over Leibnitz as the inventor of the infinitesimal calculus. The controversy over which man could lay claim to have first discovered calculus began in the late 17th century and gathered pace in the years leading up to the publication of the Commercium. John Collins, an English mathematician, maintained a prodigious correspondence with all the major scientists of his day including Leibnitz and Newton, a selection from which forms the basis of the present publication. Published by order of the Royal Society using materials apparently supplied by Newton himself, the Commercium reaches a conclusion which is thought to be ‘greatly biased in Newton’s favour’ (DNB).
The Bernoulli family of Swiss mathematicians played a significant role in the controversy. Johann – the uncle of Nicolaus, the recipient of this copy – was a strong advocate for Leibnitz in the priority debate, and subsequently maintained a strained relationship with Newton. Nicolaus himself visited London in 1712 where he was introduced to Newton and Halley by the mathematician Abraham De Moivre, a French mathematician and fellow of the Royal Society who had been appointed to the commission responsible for settling the controversy. It was apparently through De Moivre that Nicolaus received the present copy: ‘As promised, De Moivre did send Johann Bernoulli a copy of the Commercium Epistolicum, as well as another one to Bernoulli's nephew, Nicolaus. It took a typical De Moivre route. He initially sent the books through Paul Vaillant, the Huguenot bookseller in London. From Vaillant's operation in The Hague, it went via the chaplain of the duc d'Aumont to Remond de Montmort and then on to Bernoulli. De Moivre informed only Nicolaus Bernoulli that the books were on their way. By the time the books arrived, they had received some damage from the rigors of eighteenth-century transport (Bellhouse). David Bellhouse. Abraham De Moivre: Setting the Stage for Classical Probability and Its Applications (2011); Babson 187; ESTC T18481.
Quarto (235 x 178mm). With the correct catchword on p.34 (small marginal chip to inner top corner of errata leaf, very faint browning). Contemporary marbled wrappers (lightly rubbed, lacking backstrip). Provenance: Nicolaus Bernoulli (1687-1759; presentation inscription from the Royal Society) – ‘J. Jac. D’annone’ (inscription recording purchase at auction in 1752) – paper label to corner of upper wrapper.
First edition, presentation copy to Nicolas Bernoulli, of the work which established Newton’s priority over Leibnitz as the inventor of the infinitesimal calculus. The controversy over which man could lay claim to have first discovered calculus began in the late 17th century and gathered pace in the years leading up to the publication of the Commercium. John Collins, an English mathematician, maintained a prodigious correspondence with all the major scientists of his day including Leibnitz and Newton, a selection from which forms the basis of the present publication. Published by order of the Royal Society using materials apparently supplied by Newton himself, the Commercium reaches a conclusion which is thought to be ‘greatly biased in Newton’s favour’ (DNB).
The Bernoulli family of Swiss mathematicians played a significant role in the controversy. Johann – the uncle of Nicolaus, the recipient of this copy – was a strong advocate for Leibnitz in the priority debate, and subsequently maintained a strained relationship with Newton. Nicolaus himself visited London in 1712 where he was introduced to Newton and Halley by the mathematician Abraham De Moivre, a French mathematician and fellow of the Royal Society who had been appointed to the commission responsible for settling the controversy. It was apparently through De Moivre that Nicolaus received the present copy: ‘As promised, De Moivre did send Johann Bernoulli a copy of the Commercium Epistolicum, as well as another one to Bernoulli's nephew, Nicolaus. It took a typical De Moivre route. He initially sent the books through Paul Vaillant, the Huguenot bookseller in London. From Vaillant's operation in The Hague, it went via the chaplain of the duc d'Aumont to Remond de Montmort and then on to Bernoulli. De Moivre informed only Nicolaus Bernoulli that the books were on their way. By the time the books arrived, they had received some damage from the rigors of eighteenth-century transport (Bellhouse). David Bellhouse. Abraham De Moivre: Setting the Stage for Classical Probability and Its Applications (2011); Babson 187; ESTC T18481.
Quarto (235 x 178mm). With the correct catchword on p.34 (small marginal chip to inner top corner of errata leaf, very faint browning). Contemporary marbled wrappers (lightly rubbed, lacking backstrip). Provenance: Nicolaus Bernoulli (1687-1759; presentation inscription from the Royal Society) – ‘J. Jac. D’annone’ (inscription recording purchase at auction in 1752) – paper label to corner of upper wrapper.
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