GAUSS, Carl Friedrich (1777-1855)

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£ 4 000
Auction dateClassic
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +01:00
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CHRISTIE'S
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United Kingdom, London
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ID 870902
Lot 179 | GAUSS, Carl Friedrich (1777-1855)
GAUSS, Carl Friedrich (1777-1855)

Theoria Combinationis Observationum Erroribus Minimis Obnoxiae. [Bound with:] Supplementum Theoriae Combinationis Observationum Erroribus Minimis Obnoxiae. Göttingen: Dieterich, 1823-1828.

First editions of two extremely rare Gauss offprints, presenting his definitive theory of least squares which ‘was the dominant theme – the leitmotif – of nineteenth-century mathematical statistics’ (Stigler, p. 11). ‘Surveying problems motivated Gauss to develop his ideas on least squares and more general problems of what is now called mathematical statistics. The result was the definitive exposition of his mature ideas in the Theoria combinationis obseruationum erroribus minimis obnoxiae (1823, with supplement in 1828)’ (DSB). The Supplementum is particularly important for the new methods of linear algebra and numerical analysis which Gauss introduces in the course of his analysis of least squares. ABPC/RBH record only a single copy of each offprint. Stigler, The History of Statistics, 1986.



Two works in one, quarto (240 x 205mm). (Some browning and spotting in the 1823 paper, two small stains in the Supplementum). Contemporary marbled wrappers. Provenance: early pencil annotations and diagram.





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