(18th Century Science) | A group of various scientific works

(18th Century Science)

A group of various scientific works 

This group of six books are on various topics related to science, including works on Newton — two copies of a work by a close friend of Newton containing his reminisces, and one text proving Newton's theory that the earth is slightly flattened at the poles — two works on comets, one French and the other American, and a work compiling various historical and literary Venetian texts with an engraved portrait of Galileo. The six books comprise:

[Newtoniana] — Henry Pemberton. A view of Sir Isaac Newton's philosophy. London: S. Palmer, 1728. First edition, large 4to (282 x 225 mm). 12 folding engraved plates, engraved titlepage vignette, head and tailpieces, and initials in text; soiling to title, occasional spots. Modern boards; spine faded with losses, chipped.

Another copy. 12 folding plates, engravings in text; the final leaf supplied in facsimile, otherwise fresh and bright. Later three-quarter red roan, gilt spine, marbled paper boards, marbled edges; spots of wear and a gouge to the leather, the boards rubbed, hinges starting.

Maupertuis, Pierre Louis Moreau de, et al. The figure of the earth: determined from observations made... at the polar circle. London: T Cox et al., 1738. First edition in English, 8vo (198 x 125 mm). 9 engraved folding plates at rear; staining to title and following leaves, a few minor pale spots to plates. Full contemporary sheep; worn, joints cracked, with losses to spine label. [ESTC T97821]

[Maupertuis, Pierre Louis Moreau de]. Lettre sur la comete. Paris, [s.n.], 1742. First edition, 12mo (140 x 84 mm). Engraved frontispiece. Contemporary speckled calf, gilt spine label; wear to extremities, front joint starting. [Graesse, IV, 448. Barbier II, 1207. Brunet, III, 1543]

Oliver, Andrew. An essay on comets in two Parts. Salem, Mass.: Samuel Hall, 1772. First edition, 8vo (195 x 114 mm). Engraved folding plate at rear; Lightly spotted and toned, dampstain to the title and following leaves, the plate splitting along the fold. Quarter sheep, spine label; soiling to boards, the spine worn with a small losses, front hinge cracked. [ESTC W31958]

[Galileo] — Morelli, Jacopo. Monumenti veneziani di varia letteratura. Jacopo Morelli, ed., Venice: Carlo Palese, 1796. First edition, large blue paper copy, 4to (294 x 208 mm). Engraved frontispiece, titlepage vignette, and 3 engraved illustrations, including a portrait of Galileo; Contemporary paste-paper boards, gilt edges; spine with some surface losses and with ends chipped, altogether an attractive copy.

Sold as a collection of volumes not subject to return.

PROVENANCE

The first and second works acquired at Sotheby's, December 10, 1993, lot 738; the fourth with the ownership signature of Robert S. Dunham; the sixth with the bookplate of M. Favia Del Core