Newton, Isaac

2 volumes, 4to (250 x 188mm.), half-titles, woodcut vignette on title-pages, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, 14 folding engraved plates, late eighteenth-century pasta española, flat spines gilt with red and black morocco lettering-pieces, blue speckled edges, marbled endleaves, paper flaw on m3 of volume 2 with some loss of text, small hole on n1 with loss of signature, extremities slightly rubbed

Sr de Vallarino, inscription at end of volume 1; Libreria estrangera de A. Poupart y Comp., bookstamp on first half-title

Wallis 38.03

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."

The marquise du Châtelet's translation and adaptation of Newton's Principia was written in the 1740s and only published ten years after her death. It was first printed in 1756, but delays in publication meant that it was not issued until 1759 (see details in the avertissement above the errata). This copy is dated 1759, and it has the same preliminaries in volume one as the 1756 edition, but the preface by Roger Cotes added to later issues is here found at the start of the second volume, not added to the end of the preliminaries in volume one; hence the catchword at the foot of the errata (printed on the last verso of the Cotes preface) does not match the text on the following page.