Traité D'Optique, Où l'on donne la Théorie de la Lumière dans le système Newtonien, avec de nouvelles solutions des pricipaux Problèmes de Dioptrique et de Catoptrique. (Treatise on Optics, presenting the theory of light within the Newtonian system, along with new solutions to the principal problems of dioptrics and catoptrics)
Paris: Durand & Pissot, 1752. First edition. Hardcover. Small Quarto. [1] v [i], 192 [4]pp., 7 folding plates. Original mottled calf with gilt lettering on light brown leather label, tooling and ruling on spine; raised bands. Red edges. Green ribbon marker. Marbled endpapers. Vignette engraving on title page. Decorative engraved headpieces and initials. Preface with engraved historiated endpiece. Title page with Lucretius quote in Latin, from his work De Rerum Natura / On the Nature of Things: "A Vast fountain of liquid, ethereal light faithfully irrigates the sky with fresh brilliance, forever replacing old light with new."
Handwritten ex-libris "Le Prince du Saxe Cobourg" on inside cover. Contains numerous woodcut diagrams in the text and 7 folded copper plates with drawings on the subject engraved by Charpentier and Ingram. Original edition of this important treatise on Newtonian optics. Errata page following preface as issued, with index and approval to publish by the Royal Academy of Sciences and King Louis XV at rear, the latter signed Sainson, and G. Martin.
"In his Treatise on optics, Courtivron assailed the Cartesian concept of light and championed the Newtonian. He did not servilely follow Newton, for in his view colour results from differences in speed rather than from those in weight. Furthermore, in affirming that dense mediums slow down light corpuscles, he made use of Fermat's principle of least time, recently revived by Maupertuis " DSB, III, 454. - Gray, 202 - Poggendorff, I, 489 - Wallis, 220.7.
Misprint of year of publication MDDCLII instead of MDCCLII. Index with misprinted pagination: the text of the treatise ends on page 191, the index starts on page 192, followed by 183-186, 185-188, 191-192, should be 193-202, followed by statements of privilege to publish. Binding with light wear along edges. Ribbon marker lightly frayed at end. Minor worm holes at top front and bottom of back gutter. Lightly starting at front free endpaper. Except for very light spotting on pages through preface the block in near fine condition. Very good- to near fine condition. Item #55892
Price: $2,250.00