Newton, Isaac and A. Motte [translator]

The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy ... To which are added, the Laws of the Moon's Motion, according to Gravity. By John Machin ... London: for Benjamin Motte, 1729

2 vols, 8vo (192 x 120 mm). Engraved frontispiece after and by A. Motte in first volume, section-title to Machin's "Laws of Motion," 47 folding engraved plates, 2 folding letterpress tables, 3 engraved headpieces by Motte, numerous woodcut head and tailpieces, historiated and ornamental woodcut initials; dampstaining to S⁸-U⁸ in vol. 1 affecting plates 11 and 12, repaired marginal tear to B¹ and B² in vol. 2, mild creasing to a few folding plates, sꦫtray spots. In full contemporary brown calf, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second compartments with red morocco labels lettered in gilt, third compartments numbered in gilt, others ruled in gilt, boards ruled in ꧒gilt, red speckled edges; overall worn and rubbed, upper boards nearly detached, lower boards holding, loss at heads of spines.

First edition in English of Newton's Principia, "perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make" (Einstein). With this work, "Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler had certainly shown the way; but where they described the phenomena they observed, Newton explained the underlying laws" (PMM).

The first edition was published in Latin in 1687, followed by a second in 1713. This edition is by Andrew Motte, who was the brother of the publisher, and who provided the engravings for the frontispieces and three headpieces. The third book of the Mathematical Principles is actually a translation of Newton's Treatise of the System of the World; the first Latin and English publications of this work appeared the previous year. John Machin's unsuccessful attempt to correct Newton's l﷽unar theory is incl𓄧uded at the end.

Charles Darwin, in the conclusion to the third, revised edition of On the Origin of Species, references Newton's work in one of his most rhetorically powerful passages (see lot 1025). Darwin writes, of his theory of evolution, "I cannot believe that a false theory would explain, as it seems to me that the theory of natural selection does explain, the several large classes of facts above specified. It is no valid objection that science as yet throws no light 💮on the far higher problem of the essence or origin of life. Who can exclaim what is the essence of attraction of gravity? No one now objects to following out the results consequent on this unknown element of attraction; notwithstanding that Leibnitz formerly accused Newton of introducing 'occult qualities and miracles into philosophy.'" Of Darwin's scientific forebears, perhaps none were as significant as Newton for his work's transformation of a scientific worldview and subsequent influence.

REFERENCE:

Babson 20; Gray 23; Wallis 23; see PMM 161