Mecanique Celestiale, with manuscript draft leaf - photo 1

Mecanique Celestiale, with manuscript draft leaf

Lot 99
27.01.2023 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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$ 22 680
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 887876
Lot 99 | Mecanique Celestiale, with manuscript draft leaf
Estimate value
$ 20 000 – 30 000
LAPLACE, Pierre-Simon (1749-1827). Traité de mécanique céleste. Paris: J.B.M. Duprat et al., An VII [1798]-1825.

First edition of the monumental work of Laplace, known as the French Newton—uncut and partially unopened in original pink wrappers, offered with a leaf of working draft from his Exposition du systéme du monde. "Here Laplace applied his mathematical theories of probability to celestial bodies and concluded that the apparent changes in the motion of planets and their satellites are changes of long periods, and that the solar system is in all probability very stable. He gave methods for calculating the movements of translation and rotation of heavenly bodies and for resolving problems of tides, from which he deduced the mass of the moon" (Dibner). It stands beside the Principia as one of the greatest scientific works of the Enlightenment, developing the ideas not just of Newton but also Euler, d’Alembert, and Lagrange in a highly technical tour-de-force. "Laplace’s system of celestial mechanics (a term he coined) marked an advance over that of Newton, who had posited the necessity of a Deity in the universe to correct planetary irregularities; Laplace on the other hand, when asked by Napoleon why his system contained no mention of the Creator, replied 'I had no need of such a hypothesis'" (Norman).

The bibliography of this large work is complicated. The present copy comprises the first issue of vols 1 and 2 with the French Republican date on the title pages. There are four supplements to this work; according to Norman, "any or all of these supplements may be lacking in some sets.” In this set, volume 3 has its supplement, volume 4 includes the first supplement but not the second, and volume 5 is without the 1827 supplement. In this copy, as in the Norman copy, the first two volumes are printed on paper watermarked "mecanique celeste."

This lot includes a 2pp. manuscript fragment of Laplace's earlier, more popularizing and non-mathematical work, Exposition du systéme du monde. It contains a reworked version of text originally from Book 4, Chapter XIV, but which appeared in its expanded form, as here, in Chapter XVIII of subsequent editions. Scientific manuscripts from Laplace are rare in commerce. Norman 1277; Dibner 14; PMM 252.

Five volumes, quarto (274 x 210mm). Half titles in each volume, cancels in vol. 5 (without the supplement to vol. 4 and part titles in vol. 5). Folding plate in vol. 4 (some gatherings toned, a few spots and stains). Contemporary pink publisher's wrappers, printed paper labels on spines, uncut and vols 3 and 4 partially unopened (spines sunned, a little chipping with some wear and loss to labels, front wrapper of vol. 5 heavily chipped). Provenance: several pages of manuscript mathematical notes in Spanish laid in - B.W.M. Ottevanger (bookplate in all vols).

[With:] LAPLACE, Pierre-Simon. Autograph manuscript, n.p., n.d, but after 1796. Reworking text from Book 4 of Exposition du systéme du monde. In French. Two pages, 181 x 224mm (some closed tearing at folds).
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13.01.2023 – 27.01.2023
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