Second Edition, [28],484, [8]pp., folding engraved plate of cometary orbit, numerous woodcut text diagrams, copper engraved printers vignette to title, bookplate to title (Janos Torok), early ownership inscription to title (“Andw. Bryson 1780” and “Robert Duk[e]”), leaf 3Q2 is a cancel, cannot determine if leaf 2G4 is a cancel, later half calf over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, 4to, Cambridge, 1713
Preface by Roger Cotes. Tribute by Edmund Halley.
Second edition of Newton’s Principia Mathematica, “the greatest work in the history of science” (PMM).
The Principia Mathematica is Newton’s magnum opus, where he collects his discoveries in mechanics and mathematical calculus and where he exposes his theory of motion and gravitation. This work marked a turning point in the history of science and is considered, by many, as the most important scientific work in history. It is the first to feature Newton’s famous additions concerning the theory of the motion of the moon and planets, along with many other important corrections and additions. At the end of 1709 Newton delivered the corrected text to his editor Roger Cotes. This second edition appeared in Cambridge in 1713 and in Amsterdam in 1714, twenty-six years after the first. It had five substantial changes, including additional examples of comets, reflecting Halley’s efforts on the subject during the intervening years. This edition was edited by Roger Cotes, “whose preface rigorously attacks the Cartesian philosophy then still in vogue at universities, and refutes an assertion that Newton’s theory of attraction is a causa occulta, is of great historical importance” (Sotheran 3257). Newton personally presented a copy from this edition to Queen Anne.
This is one of approximately 750 copies of the second edition printed by Cornelius Crownfield for the University of Cambridge (see Babson).
Provenance:
Janos Torok was an important Hungarian publicist and book collector of the 19th century, primarily gathering books to help establish a “Bibliotheca Hungarica” to shed light on Hungary’s role in European intellectual history, focusing on books printed in Hungary, in Hungarian, and about Hungary, along with numerous choice editions of the most important books in history, especially focusing on researchers of natural science. His library consisted of about 8,000 works in nearly 12,000 volumes, in addition to over 2,000 pamphlets and was purchased by Dr. Schlauch Lorincz, Bishop of Szatmar, for 20,000 Hungarian forints in 1874.
Professor George Starr Collection.
[Printing and the Mind of Man 161 (1st edition); Babson 12; Sotheran 3257]
