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Newton, Sir Isaac (1642--1727). Opticks
The chronology of ancient kingdoms amended. To which is prefix'd, a short chronicle from the first memory of things in Europe, to the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great. By Sir Isaac Newton.
London (Place), printed for J. Tonson, and J. Osborne and T. Longman,, 1728.
xiv, [2], 376 p., III fold. pl. ; 23.4 cm (4º)

Published posthumously, in ordinary and large paper issues; this is the ordinary paper issue. Newton had worked on this theme for a number of years, attempting to apply his knowledge of astronomy and his scientific methods to the subject of ancient chronology. He had revised his own chronology several times in response to criticism from Leibniz when an early version of it was published it in 1725 without Newton's permission from a manuscript in the possession of the Abbé Conti as Abrégé de la chronologie de M. le Chevalier Isaac Newton, fait par lui-même, & traduit sur le manuscrit anglais par Nicolas Fréret, Paris: chez Guillaume Cavelier, fils, 1725. Freret had added observations of his own, and the ensuing fuss caused Newton to begin work on a revised version for publication, commissioned by the Princess of Wales. He died, however, before it was ready and the work was seen through the press by Henry Pemberton in 1728. The dedication 'To the Queen' (i.e. the former Princess of Wales) is signed 'John Conduitt' who edited the work. The engraved historiated head-piece and initial on A2r is by P. Fourdrinier. Page 96 is misnumbered 66. The three folded plates are of plans of the Temple of Solomon. See G.J. Gray, Bibliography of the works of Newton, (2nd ed., Cambridge 1907), pp. 61, 309; and P.J. Wallis and R. Wallis, Newton and Newtoniana, 1672--1975: a bibliography (Folkestone 1977), 309.2. ESTC n2784.

Copy Notes Probably the quarto volume of Newton bought from Monsieur de la Blanch[iere or -erie?] for 10s. 6d. on 9 March 1799. (Jnl 4, p. 145). The plates are inserted in reverse order after p. 346.

Binding C18th calf, blind-tooled palmette and anthemion within gilt double-ruled borders and spine, gilt-tooled spine compartments, black morocco spine-label, marbled endpapers.

Reference Number 962

Additional Names Temple of Jerusalem (Jerusalem), Early works to 1800; Conduitt, John (1688--1737); Pemberton, Sir Henry (1694--1771); Blancherie(?) or Blanchiere(?), Monsieur de la


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