Newton, Sir Isaac.

8vo (227 x 130mm.), 2 volumes, first edition in English, wide margins, engraved frontispiece in each volume by Motte, headpieces and 47 folding plates (numbered 1-25, 1-19 and 3 unnumbered), 2 folding letterpress tables (at pp.352 and 377), one page of manuscript notes in ink (probably in the hand of William Jones) loosely inserted at vol.1 pp.300-301 (referring to Proposition XC, Problem XLIV), contemporary black morocco, gilt roll-tooled border to sides, spines in six compartments with raised bands, red morocco lettering-pieces, red edges, preserved in modern black cloth slipcases, very minor wear to bindings

William Jones (1675-1749); George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield (1697-1764), armorial bookplate (dated 1860) and small blindstamp to title and preliminary leaves in each volume, thence by descent; sale ("The Library of the Earls of Macclesfield removed from Shirburn Castle, Part Five: Science I-0"), 14 April 2005, lot 1526

Babson 20; Wallis 23; I.B. Cohen, "Pemberton's translation of Newton's Principia, with notes on Motte's translation", Isis 54 (1963), 319-51; M. Feingold, Isaac Newton and the making of modern culture (New York, 2004), p.144

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A near fine copy with a highly prestigious provenance. Science was the greatest strength of the library of the Earls of Macclesfield at Shirburn Castle: the scientific books from the library were sold in a series of four auctions (Sotheby's, 2004-2005), and included a remarkable range of publications on the astronomical and mathematical sciences up to about 1750. The core foundation of the  library was the collection of William Jones (1675-1749), the eminent mathematician and tutor of George Parker, later 2nd Earl of Macclesfield. Jones was an influential promoter of the work of Isaac Newton, editing his works and playing an important role in his dispute with Leibniz. Jones also acquired an exceptional collection of Newton's autograph manuscripts, which were left at Shirburn at his death and are now in Cambridge University Library.  

Andrew Motte (1696-1734) was the son of the publisher Benjamin Motte Sr. and brother of the printer Benjamin Motte Jr. and very briefly a lecturer on geometry at Gresham College, London. This translation, which is based on the 1726 Pemberton edition of the Latin text, is a handsome work, dedicated to Sir Hans Sloane as President of the Royal Society, and was revised later in the eighteenth century by Thorp. The frontispiece to volume 1 shows the apotheosis of Newton, and quotes four lines from Halley's liminary verses to the original edition of Principia; that to volume 2 shows a pendulum and has two references to the text, one in the scholium generale.