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Autographs from a private Japanese collection
Isaac Newton (1643-1727)
Document signed, an indenture for the lease of a property in Belton-in-Rutland, 20 November 1666
細節
Isaac Newton (1643-1727)
Document signed, an indenture for the lease of a property in Belton-in-Rutland, 20 November 1666
In English. On vellum, one membrane, 405 x 480mm, signed on the fold-up by Newton, his mother Hannah Smith, and Thomas Pilkington; signed as witnesses on the dorse by Newton's half-sister Hannah Smith, his half-brother Benjamin Smith, his uncle William Ayscough, and others. Window-mounted in an album, half-leather boards. Provenance: The Fairfax Library, The Property of the Lord and Lady Fairfax – Sotheby's, 14 December 1993, lot 505.
An early property transaction, signed by Newton during his 'miracle years' at Woolsthorpe Manor. The document is an agreement between Thomas Pilkington (the husband of Newton's half-sister Marie Smith), Newton's mother, Hannah Smith, and Newton himself, described as 'Isaac Newton of Trinitye Colledge in the university of Cambridge gentleman', for a lease of one year on the house and grounds in Belton-in-Rutland occupied by Pilkington.
The document is signed during the 18 months spent by Newton at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, while Cambridge University was closed as a precaution against the plague: Newton later ascribed many of his most important scientific discoveries to these years, including gravitation, and subsequent legend has placed the story of his seeing the apple fall from the tree in the garden at Woolsthorpe in the late summer of 1666. Although the present document is ostensibly a lease, under the conventions of property transactions at this date the actual undertaking is likely a sale of the freehold by Thomas Pilkington to Newton and his mother: the 'lease' would have been followed by a 'release' the following day, which would have completed the transfer of title.
Document signed, an indenture for the lease of a property in Belton-in-Rutland, 20 November 1666
In English. On vellum, one membrane, 405 x 480mm, signed on the fold-up by Newton, his mother Hannah Smith, and Thomas Pilkington; signed as witnesses on the dorse by Newton's half-sister Hannah Smith, his half-brother Benjamin Smith, his uncle William Ayscough, and others. Window-mounted in an album, half-leather boards. Provenance: The Fairfax Library, The Property of the Lord and Lady Fairfax – Sotheby's, 14 December 1993, lot 505.
An early property transaction, signed by Newton during his 'miracle years' at Woolsthorpe Manor. The document is an agreement between Thomas Pilkington (the husband of Newton's half-sister Marie Smith), Newton's mother, Hannah Smith, and Newton himself, described as 'Isaac Newton of Trinitye Colledge in the university of Cambridge gentleman', for a lease of one year on the house and grounds in Belton-in-Rutland occupied by Pilkington.
The document is signed during the 18 months spent by Newton at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, while Cambridge University was closed as a precaution against the plague: Newton later ascribed many of his most important scientific discoveries to these years, including gravitation, and subsequent legend has placed the story of his seeing the apple fall from the tree in the garden at Woolsthorpe in the late summer of 1666. Although the present document is ostensibly a lease, under the conventions of property transactions at this date the actual undertaking is likely a sale of the freehold by Thomas Pilkington to Newton and his mother: the 'lease' would have been followed by a 'release' the following day, which would have completed the transfer of title.
榮譽呈獻
Eugenio Donadoni
Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts