Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 164

WRIGHT, Thomas (1711-1786) An original theory or new hypothe...

Estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
ca. US$14,947 - US$22,421
Price realised:
£21,250
ca. US$31,764
Auction archive: Lot number 164

WRIGHT, Thomas (1711-1786) An original theory or new hypothe...

Estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
ca. US$14,947 - US$22,421
Price realised:
£21,250
ca. US$31,764
Beschreibung:

WRIGHT, Thomas (1711-1786). An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phaenomena of the visible creation; and particularly the Via Lactea . London: H. Chapelle, 1750. 4° (275 x 220mm). Title page printed in red and black. 32 engraved plates, 2 folding, 8 in mezzotint, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces and initials. Contemporary sprinkled calf (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance : James Murray 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690-1764, bookplate dated 1737).
WRIGHT, Thomas (1711-1786). An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phaenomena of the visible creation; and particularly the Via Lactea . London: H. Chapelle, 1750. 4° (275 x 220mm). Title page printed in red and black. 32 engraved plates, 2 folding, 8 in mezzotint, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces and initials. Contemporary sprinkled calf (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance : James Murray 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690-1764, bookplate dated 1737). A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION of this attempt at reconciling religion and science and establishing an understanding of the Milky Way. Wright, a teacher of navigation and a land surveyor by profession, hypothesized that a 'divine centre' of the universe co-incided with its gravitational centre. In turn, this allowed him to suggest that the Milky Way was a flattened ring of stars around this centre: 'this hypothesis caused Immanuel Kant, who did not realise that Wright's "center" was supernatural, to credit Wright with originating a disk-shaped model of the galaxy' (Norman). Norman 2265.

Auction archive: Lot number 164
Auction:
Datum:
30 Apr 2015
Auction house:
Christie's
30 April 2015, London, South Kensington
Beschreibung:

WRIGHT, Thomas (1711-1786). An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phaenomena of the visible creation; and particularly the Via Lactea . London: H. Chapelle, 1750. 4° (275 x 220mm). Title page printed in red and black. 32 engraved plates, 2 folding, 8 in mezzotint, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces and initials. Contemporary sprinkled calf (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance : James Murray 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690-1764, bookplate dated 1737).
WRIGHT, Thomas (1711-1786). An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phaenomena of the visible creation; and particularly the Via Lactea . London: H. Chapelle, 1750. 4° (275 x 220mm). Title page printed in red and black. 32 engraved plates, 2 folding, 8 in mezzotint, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces and initials. Contemporary sprinkled calf (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance : James Murray 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690-1764, bookplate dated 1737). A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION of this attempt at reconciling religion and science and establishing an understanding of the Milky Way. Wright, a teacher of navigation and a land surveyor by profession, hypothesized that a 'divine centre' of the universe co-incided with its gravitational centre. In turn, this allowed him to suggest that the Milky Way was a flattened ring of stars around this centre: 'this hypothesis caused Immanuel Kant, who did not realise that Wright's "center" was supernatural, to credit Wright with originating a disk-shaped model of the galaxy' (Norman). Norman 2265.

Auction archive: Lot number 164
Auction:
Datum:
30 Apr 2015
Auction house:
Christie's
30 April 2015, London, South Kensington
Try LotSearch

Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!

  • Search lots and bid
  • Price database and artist analysis
  • Alerts for your searches
Create an alert now!

Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.

Create an alert