Landmark Works in Science & Mathematics: A Private Library Presented by Collectorsfolio

L an dmark Wo rk s i n
S ci e nce & Math em ati c s

A P r i va t e L i b r a r y
Presented by Collectorsfolio
L e i
b
n
i z
G a
u
D e s c
a
A
A
s
s
i m
c h
e
n o u l
l
e r
i
P a p
p u
e d
t
s
r s
e
H u y g e
n s
O
e
k
c
e r
F
l
i
a
u
r
E
a
o
h
B
r
d
e s
d
o l o
i u s
a y e s
n
c o
f
e r
F e r m a t
E u c l i
d
b e r t
i l
i n
u r
l a
K a h n
e r
W a l l i s
u n
Y o
n
g e
o
n
s
a
i
r
l e
g
l i
L andmark W orks in
S cience & M athematics
N
e
w t
o
A P r i va t e L i b r a r y
Presented by Collectorsfolio
4 Part One: Greeks and Romans

Ptolemy, Archimedes, Appolonius of Perga,
Euclid, Pappus of Alexandria
30 Part Two: The Enlightenment and Beyond

Gilbert, Kepler, Bacon, Descartes, Guericke, Huygens,
Fermat, Leibniz, Wallis, Jakob Bernoulli, Galileo,
Newton, Daniel Bernoulli, Maclaurin, Euler,
Bayes, Lagrange, Gauss, Young, Oersted,
Faraday, Bohr, Watson & Crick,
Cerf & Kahn
122 Index
2013 COLLECTORSFOLIO
Phone: +1 (212) 326 - 9551
1050 SECOND AVENUE, GALLERY 90
Fax: +1 (212) 355 - 4403
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
WWW.COLLECTORSFOLIO.COM
DESIGNED BY PHILLIP DMOCHOWSKI
INFO@COLLECTORSFOLIO.COM
1. [PTOLEMY ]. PTOLEMAEUS, Claudius.

Almagestum seu magnae constructionis mathematicae opus [Almagest].
First Edition. Venice: Lucantonio Giunta, 1528.
4 | + 1 (212) 326 -9551

9551 info@collectorsfolio.com
info@collectorsfolio.com Return
Returntototable
tableofofcontents
contents
The Almagest, written in

about 150 AD, served
as the basic guide for
Islamic and European
astronomers until about
the beginning of the 17th
century. Its original name
was Mathematike Syntaxis
(The Mathematical
Arrangement); Almagest
arose as an Arabic
corruption of the
Greek word for greatest
(megiste).
PTOLEMAEUS, CLAUDIUS | 5
It was translated into Arabic

about 827 and then from Arabic
to Latin in the last half of the 12th
century. Subsequently, the Greek
text circulated widely in Europe,
although the Latin translations
from Arabic continued to be more
influential (Britannica).
Commissioned by Pope Nicholas

V (1446-1455), translated from
Greek into Latin by Georgius
Trapezuntius (1396-1472), edited
by Luca Gaurico (1476-1558). An
earlier Latin version had appeared
in 1515, but was translated from
the Arabic. Norman 1760; See
6 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents
Stillwell 97; Wellcome 5281.

Venice: Lucantonio Giunta,
1528. Tall folio (313 x 218 mm),
18th-century full vellum with
ink notation on spine. Collation:
A6 a-s8 (s8 blank); 149 leaves
(of 150, without a blank). Title
printed in red and black. Printed
in Roman, Gothic and Greek

types with woodcut mathematical
diagrams in margins throughout.
Occasional light staining, mostly
to margins; small hole in q8
(affecting border of table, a likely
paper flaw); repairs to hinges. A
beautiful wide-margined copy.
PTOLEMAEUS, CLAUDIUS | 7
2. ARCHIMEDES.
Opera, quae quidem extant, omnia [Greek text only].
First Edition. Basel: J. Hervagius, 1544.
PROVENANCE: Sir Charles Scarburghs copy, used by him as a
student at Cambridge and extensively annotated by him in Latin

and Greek; later in the Bowie Collection, Harvard College (stamp
and duplicate release stamp on verso of title).
8 | collectorsfolio.com
+ 1 (212) 326 - 9551 / MINDTRAVEL
info@collectorsfolio.com
Return to table
Return
ofto
contents
table of contents
Archimedes - together
with Newton and Gauss
- is generally regarded
as one of the greatest
mathematicians the world
has ever known... His
influence began to take
full effect only after the
publication of this first
printed edition which
enabled Descartes, Galileo
and Newton in particular
to build on what he had
begun (PMM 72).
Horblit 5; Dibner 137.
ARCHIMEDEDES | 9
of the
collected works, and the first
appearance in print of all the items
it contains with the exception
of De sphaera et cylindro and
Quadratura parabolae. Edited by
Thomas Venatorius (or Geschauf ),
the text is based on a manuscript
of 16th-century Italian origin
now in Nuremberg, having been
purchased and brought there by
Billibald Pirckheimer. Geschauf, a
Nuremberg scholar and theologian,
EDITIO
PRINCEPS
was born about 1490 and was a

pupil of Schner and a friend of
Pirckheimer. Hervagius published
the Greek text and the Latin
translation of Jacobus Cremonensis
together, but copies are found with
the sheets of one language only,
e.g. the copy at Pembroke College,
Cambridge recorded in Adams
(Latin only) and John Greavess
copy of the Greek text, sold as part
of the Macclesfield library (lot 180,
42,000).
10 || +
+ 11 (212)
(212) 326
326 9551
- 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com
info@collectorsfolio.com Return
Returntototable
tableofofcontents
contents
10
his is a notable association copy, having

been used and annotated by Charles
Scarburgh while a student at Gonville
& Caius, and in 1636 he recorded at the end
of this book his hope (with Gods help) of
attaining his bachelors degree, which he did
in 1637. Virtually every page of the text of
Archimedes in this copy is annotated, sometimes
simply with cross-references to Euclid, but
often much more extensively, notably: pp. 45-7,
on the Measurement of the Circle, 109-10 and
114-17, the two books on the Centre of Gravity
(this is where the inserted bifolium is), 12223, the Sand Reckoner, 132, 134-5 and 139, on
the Quadrature of the Parabola. The bifolium
appears to be in a different hand, which may be
that of John Wallis, Newtons greatest English
mathematical precursor, as it resembles closely
that of the two letters from Wallis to Scarburgh
found in the Macclesfield copy of the Greek and
Latin parts (lot 179), which was also owned by
Scarburgh.
Two parts (of four, Greek text only). Folio, mid17th century English calf panelled in gilt, rebacked
and recornered; folding box. pp. [viii], 139, [iv],
65 (lacking the terminal blank), with numerous
woodcut initials and diagrams in text, bifolium
with MS algebraic formulae inserted between pp.
116 and 117. Light foxing to early leaves, light
occasional dampstaining to outer bottom margin.
ARCHIMEDEDES | 11
T h e bifappears
oli u m ap
be
The bifolium
to pe
be ar
in sa to
different
hand, which may be
i nJohn
a d iff
e r entNewtons
han d, greatest
w hi ch m
ay be mathematical
t ha t
that of
Wallis,
English
o f Joh
s , Ne
w to ns
r eates
t E letters
n g l i s hfrom
precursor,
asnit Walli
resembles
closely
thatg of
the two
emati c al. . p. r e c u r s o r. . . .
Wallismath
to Scarburgh
It r es embles clo sely t ha t o f t he t w o l et te r s

f r o m Walli s to S c ar b u r g h f o u n d i n t he
Ma cclesf i eld co py o f t he G r e ek an d L a t i n
par ts, als o o w n ed by S c a r b u r g h.
Charles Scarburgh (1619-94, pictured), was founding member of

the Royal Society and an important physician, mathematician, and
renowned bibliophile. He was an intimate friend and associate of
William Harvey, and was a formative influence on Sir Christopher
Wren. Among his other friends were Robert Hooke and Abraham
Cowley. Stillman Drake, in his Introduction to the facsimile
edition of Salusburys work, wrote that Scarburgh ... an excellent
mathematician ... has accumulated a fine library, but lost it in the
civil commotions of the 1640s; he then built another, even finer, of
which a catalogue was published in 1695.
This volume is thus a significant relic of an important figure in the
Scientific Revolution, it derives from one of the great English private
libraries (having survived the Civil War), and provides an insight
into the study of Archimedes in the Cambridge of Scarburgh and
Wallis (the two graduated at Cambridge in the same year).
ARCHIMEDEDES | 15
3. APOLLONIUS OF PERGA.
[Conics] Conicorum Libri Quattuor. Una Cum Pappi
Alexandrini Lemmatibus, et Commentariis Eutochii Ascalonitae.
First Edition. Bologna: Alessandro Benacci, 1566.
FIRST EDITION of the first four books of Apolloniuss Conics;
the first printing of any of his work.
Apollonius was known by his contemporaries as the Great

Geometer, whose treatise Conics is one of the greatest scientific
works from the ancient world. Most of his other treatises are
now lost, although their titles and a general indication of their
contents were passed on by later writers, especially Pappus of
Alexandria (fl. c. AD 320). Apolloniuss work inspired much of
the advancement of geometry in the Islamic world in medieval
times, and the rediscovery of his Conics in Renaissance Europe
formed a good part of the mathematical basis for the scientific
revolution.
The first four books of the Conics survive in the original Greek,
the next three only from a 9th-century Arabic translation, and
an eighth book is now lost. Books IIV contain a systematic
account of the essential principles of conics and introduce the
terms ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola, by which they became
known (Britannica).
APPOLONIUS OF PERGA | 17
Beautifully printed with diagrams

on nearly every page. Bound with:
SERENUS OF ANZI (fl. 4th
century). Libri duo. Unus de sectione cylindri, alter de sectione coni.
All texts translated from Greek
into Latin and edited by Federico
Commandino (1509-1575).
Bologna: Alessandro Benacci,

1566. Bologna: Alessandro Benacci, 1566, Folio, early full vellum
with silk ties,old tape repair to top
of spine, some soiling to binding,
ties frayed, evidence of signature
removal at top of title, bookplate
of Franz Joseph, Count of Kuenberg. Text exceptionally clean with
wide margins.
Apolloniuss Conics
laid the foundations for
Newtonian astronomy,
ballistics, rocketry, and
space scienceall 2,000
or more years in the
future when he wrote
with its discussion of
conic sections, which
describe the shape formed
by the path of projectiles.
Along the way,
Apollonius developed
his own counting system
for large numbers,
and put forth a new
mathematical worldview
that opened the way for
the infinitesimal calculus
many centuries later
(Knight, Science and Its
Times).
4. EUCLID.
Elementorum libri XV una cum scholiis antiquiis.
First Edition. Pesaro: Camillo Franceschini, 1572.
FIRST EDITION of the magnificent Commandino
Euclid. The Macclesfield copy. Translated into Latin

with extensive commentary by the noted scholar
Federico Commandino. Commandinos edition was
made use of by subsequent editors for centuries...
Comandino [was] certainly an outstanding figure in
the history of Euclids Elements (Thomas-Stanford).
One could argue that it

was Commandino's translating activity
that made possible the rapid recovery of Western
mathematics in the sixteenth century
(Encyclopedia of the Scientific Revolution).
Pesaro: Camillo Franceschini, 1572. Folio, 17thcentury full calf rebacked with original spine laiddown; with gilt-ruled boards and gilt-decorated spine;
edges speckled red. A few scuffs to binding, CCC2
torn in margin. An outstanding wide-margined copy
with distinguished provenance.
PROVENANCE: From the library of the Earl of

Macclesfield, with his bookplate and embossed stamp.
EUCLID | 23
5. PAPPUS OF ALEXANDRIA.
Mathematicae collectiones [Books III- VIII] a Federico
Commandino... in latinum conversae et commentariis illustratae.
First Edition. Pesaro: Girolamo Concordia, 1588.
FIRST EDITION of arguably the most important source book for the
works of the Greek mathematicians.
A most valuable historical record of parts of Greek mathematics that

would otherwise be unknown to us... The Collection of Pappus had been
virtually unknown to the Arabs and the medieval Europeans, but this,
too, was translated by the indefatigable Commandino, although it was
not printed until 1588.
Boyer and Merzbach, A History of Mathematics
PAPPUS OF ALEXANDRIA | 25
The Horblit copy, in contemporary (likely original) boards. Pesaro:

Girolamo Concordia, 1588. Folio, contemporary (probably original)
boards; old paper spine label and ink Pappus written on spine;
Pappi Alexandrini written neatly on bottom edge. Soiling and light
wear to boards. Early cross-out of early signature on title, very light
marginal dampstaining to a few early gatherings. An outstanding
copy with exceptionally wide margins.
PROVENANCE: Harrison D. Horblit, with his bookplate on front
pastedown.
26 | + 1 (212) 326 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com
Pappus .. had a crucial influence on the early modern interpretation of

geometrical exactness. Indeed, the publication of the Collection in 1588
marked the starting point of an ordered debate on the geometrical legitimacy of
construction procedures.
Henk J. M. Bos, Redefining Geometrical Exactness

Pappus summary of Heros Mechanics in Book 8 of the Collection
introduced Renaissance scholars to the idea that the five simple
machines were the basic components of all machines.
The Genius of Archimedes
PAPPUS OF ALEXANDRIA | 27
6. APOLLONIUS OF PERGA.
Conicorum Lib. V, VI, VII.
First Edition. Florence: Joseph Cocchini, 1661.

RARE FIRST EDITION of books V-VII of Apolloniuss hugely
influential Conics, containing his most original work.
Apollonius was known by his contemporaries as the Great Geometer,

whose treatise Conics is one of the greatest scientific works from the
ancient world. Most of his other treatises are now lost, although their
titles and a general indication of their contents were passed on by later
writers, especially Pappus of Alexandria (fl. c. AD 320). Apolloniuss
work inspired much of the advancement of geometry in the Islamic
world in medieval times, and the rediscovery of his Conics in Renaissance
Europe formed a good part of the mathematical basis for the scientific
revolution.
WITH: Archimedess Liber Assumptorum following the Apollonius.
Complete with half-title. Folio, contemporary full calf rebacked with

original gilt-decorated spine laid down. Some scuffing to binding. Text
extremely clean with exceptionally wide margins. An outstanding copy.
7. GILBERT, William.
De Magnete.
First Edition. London: Peter Short, 1600.

FIRST EDITION of the foundational work for electricity and
magnetism. PMM 107; Dibner 54.
PROVENANCE: The Bradley Martin copy, with bookplate on
front pastedown; ex-libris Meyer Friedman, with bookplate on

front free endpaper.
GILBERT, WILLIAM | 31
Gilbert's book influenced Kepler, Bacon, Boyle. Newton and,

in particular, Galileo, who used his theories to support his own proof of the
correctness of the findings of Copernicus in cosmology (PMM 107).
The magnetic properties of

the lodestone were known in
ancient Greece, but it was only
in the later Middle Ages that
knowledge of the magnetic
compass spread to Europe from
China, where also the mysteries
of magnetism had long been
studied. But it is with Gilbert,
who was physician to Queen
Elizabeth I, that the modern
development of electricity and
magnetism really starts.
His book 'On the Magnet' was
the first major English scientific
treatise based on experimental
methods of research. Gilbert
was chiefly concerned with
magnetism; but as a digression
he discusses in his second book

the attractive effect of amber
(electrum), and thus may be
regarded as the founder of
electrical science. He coined
the terms 'electricity', 'electric
force' and 'electric attraction'.
His 'versorium', a short needle
balanced on a sharp point to
enable it to move freely, is the
first instrument designed for the
study of electrical phenomena,
serving both as an electroscope
and electrometer. He contended
that the earth was one great
magnet'
he
distinguished
magnetic mass from weight' and
he worked on the application
of terrestrial magnetism to
navigation (PMM 107).
Folio, contemporary
full vellum. With
woodcut
printers
device on title-page,
woodcut of Gilberts
arms on title verso, one
woodcut folding plate,
88 woodcut illustrations
and
diagrams
in
text (4 full-page),
ornamental woodcut
headpieces and initials.
Very handsome ink
biographical paragraph
on Gilbert on verso of
front free endpaper;
a few spots and a
few early neat ink
notations in margins.
A magnificent copy.
GILBERT, WILLIAM | 33
8. KEPLER, Johannes.
Nova Stereometria doliorum vinariorum
First Edition. Linz: J. Plancus for the author, 1615.

SCARCE FIRST EDITION of one of the most significant works in
the prehistory of calculus. With the rare errata leaf present in two
variant states.
KEPLER, JOHANNES | 35
Nova Stereometria doliorum vinariorum, in primis Austriaci, gurae omnium aptissimae; et usus in eo virgae cubicae compendiosossimus & plane singularis. Accessit Stereometriae Archimedae
Supplememtum. Folio, contemporary calf sympathetically rebacked. With two errata leaves, woodcut on H3v shaved at foot as
usual, ocassional foxing, small closed tears to final leaf; a very good
crisp copy. RARE.
The task of writing a complete

treatise on volumetric determination seems to have been suggested to Kepler by the prosaic
problem of determining the best
proportions for a wine cask. The
result was the Nova stereometria,
which appeared in 1615. This
contains three parts, of which the
rst is on Archimedean stereometry, together with a supplement
containing some ninety-two solids not treated by Archimedes.
The second part is on the measurement of Austrian wine barrels, and the third on applications
of the whole (Boyer, The History
of the Calculus).
Kepler's basic method was to regard the circle as a polygon with
an innite number of sides and
its area as being composed of an
innite number of innitesimal
triangles with vertex at the centre of the circle and base one of
the sides of the polygon. Similarly, the volume of a sphere was

made up of an innite number of
pyramids, the cone and cylinder
of innitely thin circular discs or
of innitesimal wedge-shaped
segments radiating from the axis.
Kepler then extended his work
to solids not considered by the
ancients. The areas of the segments cut from a circle by a chord
he rotated about this chord, obtaining solids which he designated characteristically as apple or
citron-shaped, according as the
generating segment was greater
or less than a semi-circle... Kepler's Doliometha... exerted such
a strong inuence in the innitesimal considerations which followed its appearance, and which
culminated a half century later in
the work of Newton, that it has
been called [by Moritz Cantor]
the source of inspiration for all
later cubatures (Boyer).
KEPLER, JOHANNES | 37
9. BACON, Francis.
Instauratio magna [Novum organum].
First Edition. London: John Bill, 1620.

FIRST EDITION of Bacons argument for and development of the
scientific method. PMM 119.
Bacon conceived a massive plan for the reorganization of

scientific method an gave purposeful thought to the relation of
science to public and social life. His pronouncement I have taken
all knowledge to be my province it he motto of his work... The
frontispiece to his magnum opus shows a ship in full sail passing
through the Pillars of Hercules from the old to the new world. It
symbolizes the vision of its author whose ambitious proposal was:
a total reconstruction of sciences, arts and all human knowledge...
to extend the power and dominion of the human race... over the
universe.
- Printing and the Mind of Man, 119
BACON, FRANCIS | 39
Bacon insisted on experiment in determining

truth in nature and the above book is a proposed
method for the assessment of all knowledge. The
accumulation of observation and fact must be the
basis of a new philosophy and not the authority
of Aristotle or anyone else... Bacons inspiration
led directly to the formation of the Royal Society.
The famous engraved title-page showing a ship
boldly sailing beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the
limits of the old world) is interpreted to represent
the bold spirit of adventure and research of the
new age of science (Dibner 80).
Second issue (as usual) with Billium only
(omitting Bill Norton) in colophon and added
errata. With engraved title by Simon van de
Passe. Folio, contemporary full calf rebacked
with original spine laid-down; custom box. Some
soiling to binding and repairs to corners. Title page
with early signature and notation in top margin, a
few scattered rust spots, tiny tear to corner of B2.
Overall, text extremely clean and crisp with wide
margins.
BACON, FRANCIS | 41
FIRST EDITION of Descartess Principia Philosophiae, the first
attempt at a completely mechanistic account of the universe and the

direct antecedent to Newtons Principia of 1687. Bound with the
first Latin edition of Discourse on Method, including the first appearance of Descartes's famous Latin phrase cogito ergo sum.
10. DESCARTES, Rene.

Principia Philosphiae [with] Dissertatio de Methodo.
First Edition. Amsterdam: Ludovic Elzevier, 1644.
We now recognize that Newton intended his Mathematical Principles

of Natural Philosophy specifically to replace Descartes's own Principles of
Philosophy, which was first published in Amsterdam in 1644.
-Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

It wasnt until the publication of
the Principia in 1644 that Descartes offered a complete and
detailed account of his natural
philosophy. As his critics had anticipated, Descartess Principia
did include a repudiation of Aristotles twin notions of form and
substance, an entirely materialist natural philosophy and a heliocentric model of the universe.
By 1663 his Principia was on the
Churchs list of banned books
and, until Newtons own Principia appeared in 1687, was the
pre-eminent scientific system in
the world. PMM 129, citing the

first edition (in French) of the
Discourse on Method.
Amsterdam: Ludovic Elzevier,
1644. WITH: Specimina Philosophiae: seu Dissertatio de Methodo recte regendae rationis, & veritatis in scientiis investigandae:
D33eeeioptrice, et Meteora. Ex
Gallico translata, & Ab auctore
perlecta, variisque in locis emmendata. Amsterdam: Elzevier, 1644.
Quarto, contemporary full vellum.
Browning to a few gatherings (as
often). A beautiful, fine copy.
DESCARTES, RENE | 43

Geometria.
First Edition. Leiden: John Maire, 1649.

FIRST SEPARATE EDITION AND FIRST EDITION
IN LATIN of one of the cornerstones in the history of
mathematics; the second appearance overall (following

its inclusion, in French, as part of an appendix in the
very rare first edition of Discours de la methode).
Quarto, contemporary vellum with inked titles on spine
and lower edge of text block. Owner stamp on front
free endpaper. A beautiful copy with only occasional
light foxing. SCARCE.
On November 10, 1619, the most important event of Descartes's

life occurred... Descartes spent the whole day snugly tucked up in bed,
dreaming (or daydreaming) about the nature of the world... [and] it was
on this day that Descartes first saw the road to his own philosophy and
also had one of the greatest mathematical insights of all time.
Idly watching a fly buzzing around in the corner of the room, Descartes
suddenly realized that the position of the fly at any moment in time
could be represented by three numbers, giving its distance from each of
the three walls that met in the corner. Although he instantly saw this
in three-dimensional terms, the nature of his insight is now known to
every schoolchild who has ever drawn a graph. Any point on the graph
is represented by two numbers, corresponding to the distances along the
x axis and up the y axis. In three dimensions, you just have a z axis as well.
The numbers used in the system of representing points in space (or on a
piece of paper) in this way are now known as Cartesian co-ordinates....
When this discovery was fully worked out and eventually published, it
transformed mathematics by making geometry susceptible to analysis
using algebra,with repercussions that echo right down to the development
of the theory of relativity and quantum theory in the twentieth century.
The 1649 first Latin edition found a broad and receptive audience by
virtue of its more carefully executed figures and its full commentary.
(Gribben, The Scientists).
Second edition, greatly expanded from the 1649 first edition by the
addition of important commentary: This edition served as the basic
textbook for the generation that, in the last quarter of the century, took
the lead in introducing differential and integral calculus ( Jahnke).

Geometria.
Second Edition. Amsterdam: L. & D. Elzevier, 1659-1661.
In the second edition [of Geometria] (van Schooten

1659-1661), in two volumes, the commentaries
were enlarged, and van Schooten included work by
his students van Heuraet, Hudde, Huygens and de
Witt. This edition served as the basic textbook for
the generation that, in the last quarter of the century,
took the lead in introducing differential and integral
calculus ( Jahnke, A History of Analysis).
Geometria a Renato Des Cartes anno 1637 Gallice
edita, postea autem una cum notis Florimondi de
Beaune (...) in Latinam linguam versa & commentariis
illustrata [ed. Franciscus van Schooten]. Amsterdam,
L. & D. Elzevier, 1659 [Pt. 1] 1661 [Pt. 2] [18]-420[4]; [16]-520. Note: Text of Parts 1&2 reversed. With
frontispiece portrait of Descartes. Small thick quarto,
contemporary elaborately-blindstamped pigskin over
boards with side clasps, ink title on spine; edges dyed
gray. A few small spots of worming to binding, some
scuffing and soiling. Light dampstaining to last few
leaves, occasional light toning to text.

De Homine.
First Edition. Leyden: Peter Leffen and Francis Moyard, 1662.
With 10 engraved plates; with 2 lift-up flaps on plate depicting the heart, but without flap on plate of the brain (as usual); numerous full-page and text engravings and woodcuts. Inscribed on title to Mart. Christian Sweerts, ex dono Autoris.
The author in this case is most likely the translator Schuyl.
De homine guris et latinitate donatus a Florentio Schuyl. Leyden:
Peter Leffen & Francis Moyard, 1662. Small quarto, contemporary
vellum. Remnants of old stamp on title, occasional very light browning
to margins.
Without Descartes, the seventeenth-century mechanization
of physiological conceptions would have been inconceivable (DSB).
The work was based upon

Descartes' concept of 'l'homme
machine', an automaton
constructed by God to
approximate real men as
closely as possible; by means of
this literary device Descartes
was able to avoid the
restrictions and encumbrances
of traditional physiology and
theology, and to explain all
physical motions, except for
deliberately willful, rational
or self-conscious behavior,
in purely mechanical terms
(Norman).
14. GUERICKE, Otto Von.

Experimenta Nova.
Second Amsterdam: Johanned Jansson Waesberge, 1672.
FIRST EDITION of one of the great scientific classics: Describes
the invention of the air pump and the famous experiment with the
Magdeburg hemispheres, in which two teams of eight horses were
employed in an attempt to pull apart two copper hemispheres from
which the air had been withdrawn. Guericke also describes the
invention of the first electrical machine, which generated the first
visible and audible electric charges (Honeyman).
GUERICKE, OTTO VON | 55
The magnificent large folding plate

of the great public experiment
with the horses and hemispheres
is one of the most celebrated and
reproduced images in all of science.
Experimenta nova Magdeburgica
de vacuo spatio [New Magdeburg
Experiments Concerning Empty
Space]. Amsterdam: Johanned
Jansson
Waesberge,
1672.
Illustrated throughout, with

engraved title, engraved portrait,
7 full-page engraved plates (one
repeated), 2 double-page engraved
plates and 24 engraved diagrams
and figures in text. Dibner, Heralds
of Science 55; Grolier/Horblit 44;
Sparrow, Milestones of Science 90;
NLM/Krivatsy 5074; Wellcome
III, p.175; Wheeler Gift 170;
Norman 952. A fine copy.
A book of prime importance in electrical discovery, air-pressure and the

vacuum pump. Described are electric conduction and repulsion and the
discharging power of points. Guericke constructed a spherical rotor of
sulphur mounted on a crank; its rotation and contact upon it generated
the first visible and audible electric sparks.
-Dibner 55
This remarkable work on experimental philosophy ranks next to

Gilbert's in the number and importance of the electrical discoveries
described. Electric conduction and repulsion, the discharging power of
points, the dissipation of charge by flames, the light due to electrification,
the crepitating noises of small sparks are all recognized.
-Wheeler Gift Cat. 170
In 1650 Guericke constructed the first air pump, which he used to create a
vacuum in various containers. He showed that sound would not travel in a
vacuum, and furthermore that a vacuum would not support combustion or
animal life. In 1654 Guericke gave an impressive demonstration in front of
the emperor Ferdinand III, of the force of atmospheric pressure. Two identical
copper hemispheres 12 feet (3.66 m) in diameter were joined together. When
the air was pumped out, 16 horses could not pull them apart. . . .
-Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists
GUERICKE, OTTO VON | 57
15. HUYGENS, Christian.

Horologium Oscillatorium.
First Edition. Paris: F. Muguet, 1673.

FIRST EDITION of Huygens's masterpiece;
an outstanding copy with noted provenance.
HUYGENS, CHRISTIAN | 59
Important as Huygens's clock

was from both a practical and a
scientific point of view (it could
be used by astronomers), the
Horologium ('The Oscillating
Clock') is a general work
on dynamics and especially
a mathematical analysis of
pendulum motion. It was the
most original work of this kind
since Galileo's Discorsi
(PMM 154).
Although others had suggested the pendulum as part of a timing

mechanism, it remained for Huygens to apply his keen mathematical
sense to the problems of the clock. In this work, of which the first and
fifth books are devoted to the pendulum, he treated many problems of
dynamics of bodies in motion. He determined the tautochronous character
of the cycloid and applied it to invent an isochronous pendulum clock.
To the theory of curves he added the theory of evolutes, the fall of bodies
along curves, and determined the first value of the force of gravity by
using a compound pendulum. At the end are listed 13 theorems that
relate to the theory of centrifugal force in circular motion, a theory that
aided Newton in determining universal gravitation (Dibner 145).
Eprit Flechier (1632-1710), Bishop of

Nimes from 1687 to 1710, and well-known for his published sermons and histories. Indentified by The Catholic Encyclopedia as one of the greatest sacred orators of his century. His library was sold in London on January 25, 1726.
PROVENANCE:
Horologium Oscillatorium. Sive de Motu Pendulorum ad Horologia aptato Demonstrationes Geometricae. Paris: F. Muguet, 1673.
Folio, contemporary full speckled calf, elaborately gilt-decorated
spine, gilt arms on boards of Eprit Flechier, Bishop of Nimes. With
full page woodcut and numerous in-text woodcuts and tables. Repairs to spine and corners, text with occasional light browning. A
beautiful, fine copy with wide margins.
HUYGENS, CHRISTIAN | 61
16. FERMAT, Pierre de.

Varia Opera Mathematica.
First Edition. Toulouse: Jean Pech, 1679.

EXTREMELY RARE FIRST EDITION of Fermat's Collected
Works, containing the first publication of most of his work.
FERMAT, PIERRE DE | 63
Fermat shares with Descartes the innovation of

analytical geometry by applying algebra to geometry.
He, independently, represented a curve by an equation
defining its characteristic properties. He published
little but, in the manner of his times, announced his
discoveries in letters to other mathematicians. Among
his discoveries was a general method of solving questions
of maxima and minima, a method he used in 1629 and
one in use today. He contributed basic concepts in the
theory of numbers and probability. The above [Varia
Opera], published after his death, first presented his
work and correspondence (Dibner 108).
PROVENANCE: the Inner Temple Library, with small
ink stamp on title and a few other leaves; English

mathematician Francis Maseress (1731-1824) copy with
his signature on front flyleaf and annotations in text.
Toulouse: Jean Pech, 1679. Folio, contemporary calf

rebacked. With five engraved folding plates; engraved
head- and tail-pieces, diagrams in text. Occasional
light browning and foxing. A very good copy.
FERMAT, PIERRE DE | 65
17. LEIBNIZ, Gottfried Wilhelm.

Nova Methodus pro maximis et minimis. IN: Acta Eruditorum.
First Edition. Leipzig: J. Grossium and J.F. Gletitschium, 1684-1685.

FIRST EDITION of the first announcement of differential calculus.
IN: Acta Eruditorum, 1684-1685, pp. 467-73. The full volume of-
fered, with volume title, index, and addenda. Thick quarto, contemporary half-calf with elaborately gilt-decorated spine; edges dyed
red. Corners on binding bumped and worn. Text generally very clean
with only occasional light browning.
LEIBNIZ, GOTTFRIED WILHElM | 67
Leibniz was an almost universal

genius whose place in the history of mathematics depends on
his being an independent inventor of the infinitesimal calculus
and on his contributions to combinatorial analysis which foreshadowed the development of
modern mathematical analysis...
The Acta Eruditorum was established in imitation of the French
Journal des Scavans in Berlin in
1682 and Leibniz was a frequent
contributor. Another German
mathematician (E.W. Tschirnhausen) having published in it
his paper on quadratures, based
on researches that Liebniz had
communicated to him, Leibniz
at last decided in 1684 to present to the world the more abstruse parts of his own work on
the calculus. His epoch-making papers give rules of calcula-
tion without proof for rates of

variation of functions and for
drawing tangents to curves....
The infinitesimal calculus originated in the 17th century with
the researches of Kepler, Cavalieri, Torrecelli, Fermat and Barrow, but the two independent
inventors of the subject, as we
understand it today, were Newton and Leibniz... Although both
Newton and Leibniz developed
similar ideas, Leibniz devised a
superior symbolism and his notation is now an essential feature
in all presentation of the subject.... With the calculus a new
era began in mathematics, and
the development of mathematical physics since the 17th century would not have been possible
without the aid of this powerful
technique (PMM 160).
LEIBNIZ, GOTTFRIED WILHElM | 69
18. (NEWTON, Isaac); WALLIS, John.

Opera Mathematica.
First Edition. Oxford: Sheldonian Theatre [University Press], 1695,

1693, 1699.
SCARCE FIRST EDITION of the collected works of one of Newtons
most important precursors, John Wallis, Savilian Professor (1649-1703),

containing the first printed appearance of Newtons ideas on fluxions.
A staunch promoter of English mathematicians, Wallis repeatedly
urged Newton to publish his theories before others laid claim to
he work, for the sake of your Reputation (& that of the nation)
(Gjertsen, Newton Handbook, 605).
While Newton resisted for many years, in 1693 Wallis published
several letters from Newton in Vol. II of his Opera, thereby introducing
the concept of fluxional notationpricked and dotted letters. In the
preface to Vol. I (1695), Wallis refers briefly to Newtons claim to the
discovery of Fluxions, wile Vol II (1693) has the first full account of
Newtons invention of calculus.
[NEWTON] WALLIS, JOHN | 71
This magnificent and comprehensive edition of Walliss collected

works was financed by and printed
at Oxford University. In addition
to several firsts, including those
described above, these volumes
contain reprints of virtually all of
Walliss great books, including the
Arithmetica infinitorum and Mechanica (Vol. 1), an augmented Latin edition of the Treatise of Algebra
(Vol. II), and bilingual editions of
a number of ancient Greek texts
including Ptolemys Harmonics,
Aristarchuss On the magnitudes
and distances of the sun and moon
and Archimedess Sand-reckoner
(Vol. III). In addition to numerous other mathematical works,
the four volumes include his most
popular work, Grammaticae lingua
anglicanae, his Treatise of Speech
[which] formed a useful theoretical foundation for his pioneering
attempts to teach deaf-mutes how
to speak (DSB), as well as an important tract on cryptography in
which he records the methods he
developed while deciphering for
Cromwell the coded messages of
Charles I.
Opera Mathematica. Volumen primum [-Tertium Opera quaedam

miscellanea]. Oxford: Sheldonian
Theatre [University Press], 1695,
1693, 1699. Four volumes, bound in
three. Folio, contemporary full paneled calf rebacked to style. Complete
with four engravings (on three leaves)
and three portraits (Vols. I & II with
the same portrait by Loggan dated 1678 and engraved by Burghers;
Vol 3 by Sonmans dated 1698 and
engraved by Burghers). With large
bookplate inside each front cover
reading The Gift of Mr. Thomas
Heatley, Citizen and Iron-monger
of London, to the Mathematical
School in Christs Hospital, Anno
Dom. 1700. A very clean copy with
only occasional light browning and
foxing, very handsomely bound.
Wing W596, W566, W597. Babson 184. Roberts and Trent, 345. see
J.F. Scott, The Mathematical Work
of John Wallis, London 1938; M.
Baron, The Origins of the Infinitesmal Calculus, Oxford, 1969, 205213; Richard Westfall, The Life of
Isaac Newton, Cambridge, 1993,
207-209ff.
[NEWTON] WALLIS, JOHN | 73
20. GALILEI, Galileo.

Opere di Galileo Galilei Nobile Fiorentino Accademico Linceo.
Second Edition. Florence: Giovanni Gaetano Tartini and Santi

Franchi, 1718.
Second edition of Galileos

collected works; an important
edition containing a wealth of
material (nearly all of volume
3) not included in the 1655-56
first collected edition. The first
two volumes are essentially a
reprint of the 1655-56 Bologna
edition, while the third volume
contains previously unpublished
material. Sometimes referred to
as the first complete edition,
although this edition does not
include the Dialogo nor the Letter
to the Grand Duchess Cristina,
both of which were still on the
Index Prohibitorum. Edited by
Tommaso Buonaventuri.
Quarto, contemporary
full
vellum with leather labels; edges
speckled red.Three volumes.With
engraved frontispiece portrait of
Galileo, engraved vignette with
view of Florence on first title
page with title page printed in
red and black, woodcut initials,
head- and tailpieces, woodcut
diagrams, folding engraved plate.
A few cosmetic cracks to vellum
at joints. Faint evidence of stamp
removal on title pages, two small
spots of dampstaining on top
margin of first few leaves of vol 1;
tiny worming on first few leaves
of vol 3. Text extremely clean with
wide margins. A beautiful set.
GALILEI, GALILEO | 75
19. BERNOULLI, Jakob.

Ars Conjectandi.
First Edition. Basel: Impensis Thurnisiorum fratrum, 1713.

FIRST EDITION of Bernoullis foundational work on proba-
blility theory. Jakob Bernoullis great treatise was published posthumously. It was the first systematic attempt to place the theory
of probability on a firm basis and is still the foundation of much
modern practice in all fields where probability is concerned insurance, statistics and mathematical heredity tables (PMM 179).
Small quarto, contemporary full calf rebacked with original spine laid
down; elaborately gilt-decorated spine; marbled endpapers, edges
dyed red. Bookplate of Ch. Roulleau de la Roussiere on front free
endpaper. Neat small contemporary ownership inscription on title.
Light occasional foxing generally to margins, foxing heavier on first
few and last few leaves. A very good copy in handsome contemporary
binding.
BERNOULLI, JAKOB | 77
In the first three parts of Ars Conjectandi Bernoulli generalizes

the doctrine of chances as previously developed by Pascal and
Huygens. He presents an ingenious commentary on Huygens
treatise and a unified, generalized treatment of combinatorics in
the spirit of Pascal but with no reference to Pascals treatise, which
he presumably did not know. He clearly states the multiplication
rule for the case of independence; he derives the binomial infinite
number of trials as the sum of an infinite series. Finally, he
demonstrates the power of his methods by solving 24 problems
taken from popular games of chance. The first 209 pages of Ars
Conjectandi constitute an excellent textbook that consolidates and
generalizes the existing calculus of chances. It is a pedagogical
masterpiece with a clear formulation of theorems supported by
elaborate proofs both in abstract form and by means of numerical
examples.
In Part 4, the last 30 pages of Ars Conjectandi, Bernoulli takes
up new and fundamental problems of probability theory and
its applications. Instead of the old concept of chance based on
symmetry, he introduced a new concept of probability, defined as a
measure of our knowledge of the truth of a proposition, a degree
of certainty. This is a revolutionary step because probability in this
sense relates to propositions and not directly to events (Anders
Hald, A History of Probability and Statistics and Their Applications
before 1750).
BERNOULLI, JAKOB | 79
21. NEWTON, Isaac.

Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Matematica
Third Edition. London: Guil. & Joh. Innys, Regiae Societatis

typographos, 1726.
Rare 1726 third edition of Newton's Principia, the last edition edited
by Newton and the basis for all subsequent editions. One of only
1250 copies printed.
The Principia is generally described as the greatest work in the history
of science. Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler had certainly shown
the way; but where they described the phenomena they observed,
Newton explained the underlying universal laws. The Principia
provided the great synthesis of the cosmos, proving finally its physical
unity. Newton showed that the important and dramatic aspects of
nature that were subject to the universal law of gravitation could be
explained, in mathematical terms, within a single physical theory.
With him the separation of natural and supernatural, of sublunar
and superlunar worlds disappeared. The same laws of gravitation and
motion rule everywhere; for the first time a single mathematical law
could explain the motion of objects on earth as well as the phenomena
of the heavens. The whole cosmos is composed of inter-connecting
parts influencing each other according to these laws. It was this grand
conception that produced a general revolution in human thought,
equalled perhaps only by that following Darwins Origin of Species. It
was the final, irrevocable break with a medieval conception based on
Greek and Roman cosmology and a scholastic system derived from
the medieval interpretation of Aristotle... Newtons universe, almost
independent of the spiritual order, ushered in the age of rationalism,
scientific determinism and the acceptance of a mechanistic view of
nature (Printing and the Mind of Man, 161).
NEWTON, ISAAC | 81
On the history and importance of the third edition:

Towards the end of his life,
Newton gave one last effort to
the Principia. It is clear that he
regarded the Principia rather than
the Opticks as his masterwork...
He worked over the Principia
without end to hone its language
to a perfect expression of his
ideas. Perhaps the appearance of
a reprint of the second edition in
Amsterdam in 1723 stimulated
Newton to put his plan for a new
edition into action. Perhaps a
serious illness in 1722 reminded
him that he could not delay forever.
We know only that printing of
an edition more sumptuous than
either of the others began in the
fall of 1723. As editor, Newton
had the services of a young
member of the Royal Society,

Henry Pemberton... In the fall
of 1723, Pemberton addressed
to him the first of thirty-one
communications which stretched
over the following two-and-ahalf years while the edition passed
through the press... Through
1724 and 1725 the edition made
its slow but steady progress
toward completion with none
of the delays that stopped the
press during the second edition.
Newton dated the preface 12
January 1726. It was the last day
of March when Martin Folkes
presented a copy 'richly Bound
in morocco Leather' to the Royal
Society in Newton's name. In all,
1,250 copies were printed....
Westfall, The Life of Isaac Newton
NEWTON, ISAAC | 83
PROVENANCE: Presentation prize bookplate from Trinity College
to Thomas Meredith with further gift notation between two of

Thomas Merediths sons on title. Thomas Meredith (1777-1819), a
noted mathematician, entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1791 and
two years later, in 1793, was elected scholar of the college (the prize
bookplate is dated 1793, corresponding with Meredith becoming
a scholar). After graduation from Trinity, Meredith worked on
mathematical treatises, on the strength of which he was awarded
both an MA and Fellow of the College in 1805. After Merediths
death, this copy was presumably passed on to his oldest son, the Rev.
Richard Graves Meredith, who later gave it to his brother (Merediths
fourth son) Edmund Allen Meredith (1817-1899) who became a
prominent Canadian politician (becoming Under Secretary of State)
and president of McGill University, Montreal.
Complete with the privilege leaf, half-title, and final leaf of

advertisement. With frontispiece portrait engraving by Vertue and
numerous illustrations in text.
Quarto, contemporary calf sympathetically rebacked, with giltstamped coat-of-arms of Trinity College, Dublin on both boards.
Occasional light scattered foxing but generally text very clean; some
neat scholarly marginal notes in Latin.
NEWTON, ISAAC | 85
22. BERNOULLI, Daniel.

Hydrodynamica, sive de viribus et moribus fluidorum.
First Edition. Strasbourg: Johann Heinrich Decker [for] Johann

Reinhold Dulssecker, 1738.
FIRST EDITION of Bernoulli's masterpiece, the foundational work
for hydrodynamics (a term Bernoulli invented).
Bernoullis reputation was established in 1738 with Hydrodynamica,

in which he considered the properties of basic importance in fluid
flow, particularly pressure, density, and velocity, and set forth their
fundamental relationship. He put forward what is called Bernoullis
principle, which states that the pressure in a fluid decreases as its
velocity increases. He also established the basis for the kinetic theory
of gases and heat by demonstrating that the impact of molecules on
a surface would explain pressure and that, assuming the constant,
random motion of molecules, pressure and motion increase with
temperature (Britannica).
BERNOULLI, DANIEL | 87
Besides introducing the first hydraulic theory of fluid

flow, this book is the most remarkable general work in
theoretical and applied mechanics written in the preLangrangean period of the 18th century, based on a deep
physical understanding of mechanical phenomena and
presenting many new ideas for the following scientific
progress (Mikhailov, in Landmark Writings in Western
Mathematics, 1640-1940).
With 12 folding engraved plates and 86 illustrations.

Quarto, contemporary full calf rebacked with the
original spine laid-down.
BERNOULLI, DANIEL | 89
23. (NEWTON, Isaac); MACLAURIN, Colin.

A Treatise of Fluxions.
First Edition. Edinburgh: T.W. and T. Ruddimans, 1742.
FIRST EDITION of MacLaurin's most important
work, including a strong defense of Isaac Newton and

the first full presentation and development of Newton's
calculus. The William Jones- Macclesfield copy.
Provenance: Williams Jones, the great mathematician
and champion and publisher of Newton, with his signed
manuscript note on p. 621: His collection of some
15,000 books was considered to be the most valuable
mathematical library in England and was bequeathed
to George Parker, the second earl of Macclesfield.
Quarto (234x175mm), contemporary full calf. With halftitle in volume 1. A little worming in lower margins of
first few leaves of volume 2.
[NEWTON] MACLAURIN, COLIN | 91
24. EULER, Leonhard.

Introductio in Analysin Infinitorum.
First Edition. Lausanne: Marc Michel Bousquet, 1748.

FIRST EDITION of Euler's foundational work on mathematical
analysis.
Euler did for modern analysis what Euclid had done for ancient
geometry. It contains an exposition of algebra, trigonometry and
analytical geometry, both plane and solid, a definition of logarithms as
exponents, and important contributions to the theory of equations. He
evolved the modern exponential treatment of logarithms, including
the fact that each number has an infinity of natural logarithms. In
the early chapters there appears for the first time the definition of
mathematical function, one of the fundamental concepts of modern
mathematics. From Eulers time mathematics and physics tended to
be treated algebraically, and many of his principles are still used in
teaching mathematics (PMM 196).
EULER, LEONHARD | 93
Without the engraved portrait of the dedicatee Jean-Jacques

Dortous de Mairan, possibly indicating that this is an
early issue. Titles in red and black with engraved vignettes,
frontispiece by Soubeyran after De la Monce; with directions
to the binder and 40 folding engraved plates in rear (largely
unopened), woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces and chapter
vignettes.
Lausanne: Marc Michel Bousquet, 1748. Quarto, original

blue wrappers with paper labels; custom cloth box. Two
volumes. A few leaves with light dampstaining in outer
margin, otherwise a fine, crisp uncut copy; extremely rare in
original wrappers.
EULER, LEONHARD | 95
25. BAYES, Thomas.

An essay towards solving a problem in the Doctrine of Chances.
First Edition. London: L. Davis and C. Reymers, 1764.
FIRST EDITION of Thomas Bayes's extremely influential work on
the concept of inverse probability, the basis of modern statistical

inference.
Philosophical Transactions, Vol. LIII (1763), pp. 370-418. London:
L. Davis and C. Reymers, Printers to the Royal Society, 1764. With
26 engraved plates, mostly folding. Quarto, contemporary full calf
rebacked. The entire volume, #53 for 1763 offered. Belfast Society
in gilt on front board. Moderate wear to contemporary boards with
renewed corners and edges; interior fine.
BAYES, THOMAS | 97
Bayess Essay contains the first statement of Bayess Theorem for calculating
inverse probabilities, which forms the basis for methods of decision
analysis, statistical learning machines, and Bayesian networks. Bayesian
networks are complex diagrams that organise the body of knowledge in
any given area by mapping out cause-and-effect relationships among key
variables and encoding them with numbers that represent the extent to
which one variable is likely to affect another. Programmed into computers,
these systems can automatically generate optimal predictions or decisions
even when key pieces of information are missing. Bayesian or subjective
decision theory is arguably the most comprehensive theory of decisionmaking; however, until the late 1980s, it had little impact due to the
stupefying complexity of the mathematics involved. The rapid advances
in computing power and the development of key mathematical equations
during the late 1980s and early 1990s made it possible to compute Bayesian
networks with enough variables to be useful in practical applications
(Hook & Norman).
BAYES, THOMAS | 99
26. LAGRANGE, Joseph Louis.

Mechanique Analitique.
First Edition. Paris: la Veuve Desaint, 1788.

FIRST EDITION, a foundational work in modern mechanics.
With the appearance of the Mechanique Analitique in 1788,

Lagrange proposed to reduce the theory of mechanics and the
art of solving problems in that field to general formulas, the mere
development of which would yield all the equations necessary
for the solution of every problem... [it] united and presented
from a single point of view the various principles of mechanics,
demonstrated their connection and mutual dependence, and made
it possible to judge their validity and scope (DSB). Dibner 112.
Quarto, contemporary mottled calf, gilt-decorated spine with morocco
label. Spine ends and corners a little worn, otherwise fine.
LAGRANGE, JOSEPH LOUIS | 101
Joseph-Louis Lagrange (1736-1813) continued the work

of the earlier half of the century on the calculus; he extended
mathematical analysis and the theory of equations; and in
1788 he published his Mechanique Analitique, a work second
only to Newton's Principia in the history of mechanics
(Goodwin, The New Cambridge Modern History).
Lagrange produced his greatest work, Mecanique

analytique (1788; Analytical Mechanics), in Paris. This
summarized the research in mechanics since Isaac Newton,
based on Lagrange's own calculus of variations, and
finally placed the mechanical theory of solids and fluids
on a rigorous and analytical foundation (Biographical
Encyclopedia of Scientists).
LAGRANGE, JOSEPH LOUIS | 103
27. GAUSS, Carl Friedrich.

Disquisitiones Arithmeticae.
First Edition. Leipzig: Gerhardt Fleischer, 1801.

FIRST EDITION of one of the most influential books in the histo-
ry of mathematics.
PROVENANCE: from the collection of the Swedish mathematician
Gsta Mittag-Leffler, with his bookplate. Mittag-Leffler (18461927), known for the Mittag-Leffler function and the Mittag-Leffler theorem, founded the mathematical journal Acta Mathematica (noted on his bookplate) and amassed an impressive library of
mathematical books.
Gausss new mathematics so confused the typesetters that,
in addition to the lengthy 4-page errata, the worst mistakes in the book were corrected by cancel leaves. In this
copy leaves G4, K3, Ff7, and Tt6 are cancels. Octavo, nineteenth-century three quarter calf over marbled boards.
Faint evidence of stamp removal on title page. Faint evidence of
stamp removal on title page; minor paper repair at outer margin of
title page. Minor foxing, but overall an exceptionally clean copy in
a handsome early binding of a book that is usually found heavily
foxed and soiled.
GAUSS, CARL FRIEDRICH | 105
106 | collectorsfolio.com / MINDTRAVEL Return to table of contents
Gauss ranks, together with Archimedes and Newton, as one of the

greatest geniuses in the history of mathematics [He] published his
Arithmetical Disquisitions at the age of twenty-four, an astonishing
achievement, as it is considered to be a book that begins a new epoch
in mathematics, being a fundamental book in the modern theory of
numbers. In Part IV it contains a discussion of the theory of quadratic
reciprocity, which Gauss had discovered at the early age of eighteen; yet
Euler and Legendre before him had failed to prove it. His discovery of
a method of inscribing in a circle a regular polygon of seventeen sides
is described in Part VIIit was the first new discovery of this kind in
Euclidean geometry for over two thousand years. Other sections treat of
congruences of the second degree and of quadratic forms (Printing and
the Mind of Man, 257).
GAUSS, CARL FRIEDRICH | 107
28. YOUNG, Thomas.

The Bakerian Lecture: On the theory of light and colours.
First Printings. London: G. and G. Nicol, 1802.
FIRST PRINTINGS IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERSof two of the most
fundamental papers in modern physics: Thomas Young's evidence of

the wave theory of light and the first statement of his interference
principle and double-slit experiment, the most influential experiment
in quantum theory. WITH: An account of some cases of the production
of colours, not hitherto described. London: G. and G. Nicol, 1802. The
Bakerian Lecture: On the theory of light and colours, in Philosophical
Transactions of the Royal Society, pts 1 & 2, pp 12-48; WITH: An
account of some cases of the production of colours, not hitherto
described, in Philosophical Transactions, pp. 387-97. London: G. and
G. Nicol, 1802. Quarto, original drab blue wrappers.
The Bakerian Lecture [On the theory of light and colours] delivered in
November 1801 is an epoch-making contribution to the theory of light
in all its phases. Hooke, Huygens and above all Newton had discussed
the nature of light in the seventeenth century. Huygens propounded
the wave theory in 1690, whereas Newton was predominantly in
favour of a corpuscular theory... Though criticized by Euler and some
others, the corpuscular theory held the field almost throughout the
eighteenth century; but Young... based himself firmly on the theory
that 'radiant light consists of undulations of the luminous ether': a
theory that held the field until the latter-day notions of Planck and J.J.
Thomson. (Printing and the Mind of Man, 259.)
YOUNG, THOMAS | 109
29. OERSTED, Hans Christian.

Experimenta circa effectum conflictus electrici in acum magneticam
First Published Edition. Nuremberg: Schrag, 1820.
The results were as

important as they were
widespread. Oersted's
paper was within the year
reprinted in England,
France, Germany,
Italy and Denmark. In
1823 Ronalds and in
1833 Gauss and Weber
constructed the first
practical electric telegraphs.
Faraday's momentous
experiments with the
sequels by Clerk Maxwell,
Hertz and others bore
further witness to its
significance (Printing and
the Mind of Man, 282).
FIRST PUBLISHED EDITION of one of the rarest and most
important papers of modern science: Oersted's discovery of the

connection between electricity and magnetism. Preceded only by the
legendarily rare privately-printed pamphlet (of which only a few copies
are known to exist, only one in private hands), the first journal printing
is exceedingly scarce. Text in the original Latin. Printed in the July,
1820 issue of Schweigger's Journal fr Chemie und Physik. Less than a
year later, in 1821, volume 31 of the prestigious Journal fr Chemie
und Physik opened with an editorial announcing a change in format
'in part because a new epoch in chemistry and physics appears to have
begun with rsted's important discoveries on the connection between
magnetism and electricity.' A contributor wrote: 'Orsted's experiments
regarding magnetism are the most interesting ones performed in more
than a thousand years' (Physics in Denmark, nobelprize.org).
Nuremberg: Schrag, 1820. In: Journal fr Chemie und Physik. Hrsg. v.

Schweigger u. Meinecke, Vol. 29, pp. 275-281 (Oersted in July issue);
Neuere electro-magnetische Versuche, pp. 364-369. Nuremberg:
Schrag, 1820. The whole volume offered. Octavo, contemporary threequarter green morocco, marbled boards. Some wear to edges of binding,
text clean. WITH: Neuere electro-magnetische Versuche, Oersteds
succeeding paper on the interactions between an electric current and a
magnetic field.
Provenance: with library and de-accession stamps on series title from
the prestigious Gmelin Institute (after 1996, part of the Max Planck
Institute). Scarce.
OERSTED, HANS CHRISTIAN | 111
30. FARADAY, Michael.

On some new Electro-Magnetical Motions, and on the Theory of
Magnetism.
First Edition. London: John Murray, 1822.
FIRST EDITION of Faradays first paper on electromagnetism,
recording the first conversion of electrical into mechanical energy. It

also contained the first notion of the line of force (DSB). The former
was the basis of the electric motor; the latter in the hands of James
Clerk Maxwell, was to be the basis of classical field theory (Pearce
Williams, Michael Faraday).
Although his discovery of the electric motor and the dynamo was
almost entirely incidental to his theoretical discoveries, it laid the
foundation of the modern electrical industry electric light and
power, telephony, wireless telegraphy, television, etc. by providing for
the production of continuous mechanical motion from an electrical
source, and vice versa (Printing and the Mind of Man, 308).
ThisvolumeoftheQuarterlyJournalalsocontainsthreefollow-uppapers
by Faraday: New electromagnetic apparatus(pp.186-7); Description
of an electro-magnetical apparatus for the exhibition of rotatory motion
(pp.283-5);andNoteonnewelectro-magneticalmotions(pp.416-21).
Pp. 74-96 in Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature, and the Arts,
Vol. XII, 1822. London: John Murray, 1822. Octavo, contemporary
full tree calf rebacked. The whole volume XII for 1822 offered. With
seven engraved plates. Bookplate on front pastedown. Text clean. A
beautiful copy in contemporary tree calf. Scarce.
FARADAY, MICHAEL | 113
31. FARADAY, Michael.

Experimental Researches in Electricity.
First Edition. London: Richard and John Edward Taylor,

1839, 1844, 1855.
FIRST EDITIONS in original cloth of all three columes of Faradays
monumental Experimental Researches in Electricity, the most

comphrehensive record of his achievements (Printing and the Mind
of Man, 308).
Faraday published the results of his experiments and discoveries in

journals and it was not until he collected them in these volumes that
his work became more widely and permanently available. Since the
volumes were issued separately over a period of sixteen years, it is
very rare to find a set of the three first editions together.
Experimental Researches in Electricity. Reprinted from the
Philosophical Transactions. London: Richard and John Edward
Taylor, 1839, 1844, 1855. Octavo, original green cloth. Three volumes.
Ex-libris Bath Public Library with call numbers on spine, bookplates
on front pastedowns, and occasional small embossed stamp to text
and all plates. Ownership signature of Alfred Jones on each title.
Text clean, some spotting to cloth and one repaired spine tear, one
hinge split but holding. RARE.
FARADAY, MICHAEL | 115
32. BOHR, Niels.

On the Constitution of Atoms and Molecules.
First Editions. London: Taylor & Francis, 1913.

FIRST EDITIONS IN SCARCE ORIGINAL WRAPPERS
of all three parts of Bohrs landmark papers marking the

definitive break from using classical physics at the atomic
level.
On the Constitution of Atoms and Molecules, so proudly and
bravely titled- Part I mailed to Rutherford on March 6, 1913,
Parts II and III finished and published before the end of the yearwould change the course of twentieth-century physics. Bohr won
the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physics for the work (Rhodes, The
Making of the Atomic Bomb, 69-75).
IN: The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical
Magazine, and Journal of Science. Sixth Series, Vol. 26, No.

151, pp. 1-25; No. 153, pp. 476-501; No. 155, pp. 857-75.
London: Taylor & Francis, 1913. Octavo, original printed
wrappers; custom leather box. Three volumes. Toning to the
spines, but otherwise beautiful, fine copies.
BOHR, NIELS | 117
33. WATSON, James D.; CRICK, Francis.
Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids.
First Separate Edition. St. Albans: Fisher, Knight & Co., Ltd, 1953.
First separate edition (offprint) of the three papers announcing

the discovery of the structure of DNA, one of the most important
scientific achievements of the century. The three landmark articles
(including an illustration of the double helix), appeared together in
the April 25, 1953 issue of Nature. Realizing the significant of the
articles, the publisher took the highly unusual step of publishing the
offprint with the three articles together. Few copies were printed.
Offprint from Nature, vol 171, p.737ff, April 25, 1953. 14pp. St.
Albans: Fisher, Knight & Co., Ltd, 1953. Original self-wrappers.
Fine condition.
Maclyn McCarty ( June 9, 1911, to January 2, 2005) with Francis Crick and James D. Watson. Photo authored by
Marjorie McCarty and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
WATSON, JAMES D. & FRANCIS CRICK | 119
In this paper, we present a protocol design and philosophy

that supports the sharing of resources that exist in different
packet switching networks
34. CERF, Vinton G.; KAHN, Robert E.

A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication.
First Edition. New York, 1974.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING of the most important article
on the Internets development: Cerf and Kahns creation of the

Transmission Control Program (TCP), the blueprint for the Internet.
By the early 1970s, ARPANET (the Advanced Research Projects
Agencys computer network)was no longer the only computer network:
other countries had their own nets, and other scientific-commercial
groups in America had begun theirs. Cerf began to consider joining
them all together, via a series of what he referred to as gateways,
to create what some people called the Catenet, for Concatenated
Network, and what others called the Internet. This required not more
machinery but design of TCPs, or transmission-control protocols,
a universal language Cerf and his colleagues demonstrated the
first system to give access to more than one network. The Internet
as we now know it was born (Watson, The Modern Mind, 739).
In IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. Com-22, No. 5,
May 1974, pp. 637-648. The whole issue offered. Quarto; original
wrappers. Stamp of original owners address and a little residue on
front wrapper, otherwise fine. A superb copy, scarce in this condition.
CERF, VINTON G. & ROBERT E. KAHN | 121
Index
A
Appolonius of Perga 17, 29

Archimedes 9
Bacon, Francis 39
Bayes, Thomas 97
Bernoulli, Daniel 87
Bernoulli, Jakob 75
Bohr, Niels 116
Cerf, Vinton G. 120

Crick, Francis 118
Descartes, Rene 43, 45, 49, 50
Euclid 21
Euler, Leonhard 93
Faraday, Michael 112, 114

Fermat, Pierre de 63
Galilei, Galileo 18
Gauss, Carl Friedrich 105
Gilbert, William 31
Guericke, Otto von 55
Huygens, Christian 59
Kepler, Johannes 35
Kahn, Robert E. 120
Lagrange, Joseph Louis 101

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm 67
Maclaurin, Colin [Newton] 90
Newton, Isaac 72, 81, 90
Oersted, Hans Christian 29
Pappus of Alexandria 2
Ptolemaus, Claudius 6
Wallis, John [Newton] 73

Watson, James D. 120
Young, Thomas. 111
COLLECTORS FOLIO
1050 Second Avenue, Gallery 90 New York, New York 10022
Tel. +1 (212) 326 - 9551 Fax +1 (212) 355 - 4403 info@collectorsfolio.com
b e r t
i l
n
r i
a u
a
r
F a
e s
B o h r
r
l e
o l o
E u c l i
d
P a p
p u
s
H u y g e
n s
n o u
l
l
e r
i
h i m e
N e
w
t o
e
n
G a
u
L e i
b
n
i z
D e s c
a
u n g
Y o
e d
t
s
g e
i u s
i
l e
l i
e s
a y
n
c o
r f
F e r m a t
e r
K a h n
W a l l i s
COLLECTORSFOLIO
1050 Second Avenue, Gallery 90 New York, New York 10022
+1326
(212)
326 - 9551
Fax +1 (212) 355 - 4403
124 | + 1 Tel.
(212)
- 9551
Return
to table of contents

Landmark Works in Science & Mathematics: A Private Library Presented by Collectorsfolio

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Landmark Works in Science & Mathematics: A Private Library Presented by Collectorsfolio

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

L an dmark Wo rk s i n

S ci e nce & Math em ati c s

4 Part One: Greeks and Romans

30 Part Two: The Enlightenment and Beyond

Phone: +1 (212) 326 - 9551

1050 SECOND AVENUE, GALLERY 90

Fax: +1 (212) 355 - 4403

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022

DESIGNED BY PHILLIP DMOCHOWSKI

1. [PTOLEMY ]. PTOLEMAEUS, Claudius.

4 | + 1 (212) 326 -9551

The Almagest, written in

It was translated into Arabic

Commissioned by Pope Nicholas

6 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

Stillwell 97; Wellcome 5281.

in Roman, Gothic and Greek

PROVENANCE: Sir Charles Scarburghs copy, used by him as a

student at Cambridge and extensively annotated by him in Latin

was born about 1490 and was a

his is a notable association copy, having

12 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

It r es embles clo sely t ha t o f t he t w o l et te r s

Charles Scarburgh (1619-94, pictured), was founding member of

16 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

FIRST EDITION of the first four books of Apolloniuss Conics;

the first printing of any of his work.

Apollonius was known by his contemporaries as the Great

Beautifully printed with diagrams

Bologna: Alessandro Benacci,

18 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

FIRST EDITION of the magnificent Commandino

Euclid. The Macclesfield copy. Translated into Latin

One could argue that it

PROVENANCE: From the library of the Earl of

works of the Greek mathematicians.

A most valuable historical record of parts of Greek mathematics that

The Horblit copy, in contemporary (likely original) boards. Pesaro:

26 | + 1 (212) 326 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com

Pappus .. had a crucial influence on the early modern interpretation of

Henk J. M. Bos, Redefining Geometrical Exactness

The Genius of Archimedes

First Edition. Florence: Joseph Cocchini, 1661.

influential Conics, containing his most original work.

Apollonius was known by his contemporaries as the Great Geometer,

Complete with half-title. Folio, contemporary full calf rebacked with

28 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

First Edition. London: Peter Short, 1600.

magnetism. PMM 107; Dibner 54.

30 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

PROVENANCE: The Bradley Martin copy, with bookplate on

front pastedown; ex-libris Meyer Friedman, with bookplate on

Gilbert's book influenced Kepler, Bacon, Boyle. Newton and,

The magnetic properties of

he discusses in his second book

32 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

First Edition. Linz: J. Plancus for the author, 1615.

36 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

The task of writing a complete

the sides of the polygon. Similarly, the volume of a sphere was

38 | + 1 (212) 326 - 9551 info@collectorsfolio.com Return to table of contents

First Edition. London: John Bill, 1620.

scientific method. PMM 119.