Books

2 vol. Folio. [4], v-xl, [2], 1-547, [3]; [7], 548-916 pp. Black cloth with silver lettering on the spine. Illustrated with a facsimile frontispiece portrait of Isaac Newton, taken from the 1726 edition of Newton's Principia. Also illustrated with 67 in-text diagrams, from the original editions. Facsimile half-title, title, and text pages as well, all taken from the first three published editions of Newton's Principia. Assembled and edited by Alexandre Koyr� and I. Bernard Cohen with the assistance of Anne Whitman. Pressler, Printing in the Mind of Man (PMM) 96. According to PMM, "The Principia is generally described as the greatest work in the history of science . [providing] the great synthesis of the cosmos, proving finally its physical unity". Newton's work provided the last blow to the Aristotelian view of the universe, present and dominant through the medieval period and into the Renaissance. The book was a great catalyst for the Scientific Revolution. This edition allows the reader to see how Newton's work evolved over time, from the manuscript draft of the first edition between 1685 and 1687 to the release of the third edition in 1726. The textual variations are displayed, with other variant readings taken from surviving manuscripts. The front flap refers to this publication as a photographic reprint of the third edition, with the variant readings from the seven other sources at the bottom of each page. Thus the reader can easily observe Newton's changes. The appendices provide a bibliography of the Principia, information on the contributions of Roger Cotes and Henry Pemberton, and a complete table of contents for the third edition. A beautiful example of this important and comprehensive edition of one of the great works of science. A private person's stamp on the front pastedown of each volume; a small blemish to volume one's jacket's front panel.

"The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy," commonly known as "Principia," is a monumental scientific work by Sir Isaac Newton, first published in 1687. This magnum opus encompasses Newton's groundbreaking theories on mechanics, motion, and gravity, fundamentally altering scientific paradigms. Newton formulated three laws of motion, elucidating the relationships between force, mass, and acceleration. These laws laid the foundation for classical mechanics, outlining how objects move under the influence of external forces. The first law states that an object remains at rest or moves at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. The second law introduces the concept of force, asserting that force equals mass multiplied by acceleration (F = ma). The third law describes action and reaction, stating that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. However, Newton's most influential contribution was his law of universal gravitation. He proposed that every particle of matter attracts every other particle with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This law explained not only the motion of celestial bodies but also the falling of objects on Earth, unifying celestial and terrestrial mechanics. Newton's Principia revolutionized scientific thought by providing a mathematical framework to describe and predict the motion of objects in the universe. It presented a systematic approach to understanding natural phenomena, marking a departure from earlier qualitative explanations. Newton's work profoundly influenced subsequent scientific inquiry, serving as a cornerstone for further developments in physics and astronomy. Moreover, Principia's impact extended beyond the scientific community, inspiring advancements in various fields. Its emphasis on empirical evidence and mathematical rigor became a model for scientific investigation, fostering a culture of systematic observation and experimentation. The legacy of "The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" endures as one of the most influential scientific works in history, shaping the foundations of modern physics and serving as a testament to Newton's genius and contribution to humanity's understanding of the natural world.