Optice: sive de Reflexionibus, Refractionibus, Inflexionibus & Coloribus Lucis, Libri Tres...Latine reddidit Samuel Clarke.. by NEWTON, Isaac

Twelve folding engraved plates. [1] leaf of ads, 1 p.l., xi, [1], 415 pp., [1] p. of ads. 8vo, 18th-cent. speckled calf (carefully rebacked by Aquarius), double gilt fillet round sides, spine richly gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: G. & J. Innys, 1719. Second edition in Latin and an influential book on the Continent. Newton published this edition in Latin to reach the Continental audience which had been little influenced by his optical experiments. The edition served its purpose and caused numerous demonstrations of his theory of colors to be performed in Paris. Newton's optical theories began to spread significantly outside Great Britain as a result of this book. See Westfall's Never at Rest, pp. 794-95. A very good copy with the signature, dated 14 Mar. 1822, of Stephen Peter Rigaud (1774-1839), historian of science, astronomer, and Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford. Stamp of the Radcliffe Observatory on verso of title. With the bookplate of William A. Cole, the distinguished collector and bibliographer of chemistry. ❧ Babson 138.