Beschreibung:

Title: The method of fluxions and infinite series; with its application to the geometry of curve-lines. By the Inventor Sir Isaac Newton, Kt. Late President of the Royal Society. Translated from the author’s Latin original not yet made publick. To which is subjoin’d, a perpetual comment upon the whole work, Consisting of Annotations, Illustrations, and Supplements, In order to make this Treatise A compleat Institution for the use of Learners. By John Colson, M.A. and F.R.S. Master of Sir Joseph Williamson’s free Mathematical-School at Rochester Author: Newton, Isaac Place: London Publisher: Printed by Henry Woodfall; and sold by John Nourse Date: 1736 Description: iv, ix-xxiv, 144, [3], 144-339 pp. Copper-engraved plate inserted between pp. 272 and 273; woodcut diagrams throughout. (4to) 28.5x22.3 cm. (11¼x8¾"), period paneled calf, rebacked with modern calf. First Edition. Very rare large paper copy of Sir Isaac Newton's Methodus Fluxionum, which was originally prepared in 1671, but remained unpublished until this English translation by John Colson. The measurements of this copy exceed those of the Norman copy and other cited copies - the only other mention of a large paper copy seems to have been the Stanitz copy, sold at Sotheby's in 1984. Newton presents a method of determining the magnitudes of finite quantities by the velocities of their generating motions. At the time of its preparation, it was Newton's most complete exposition of the fundamental problem of the calculus, in which he presented his successful general method. Newton prepared this treatise just before his death and entrusted the Latin manuscript to Henry Pemberton, who never published it. In the preface, Colson writes "I thought it highly injurious to the memory and reputation of our own nation, that so curious and useful a piece should be any longer suppressed." The engraved plate demonstrates the concept of fluxions in the shooting of two birds at once. The original text was not published in Latin until 1779. Babson 171; Norman 1595; Wallis 232. Lot Amendments Condition: Very slight toning to early leaves; fine condition. Item number: 199604