VOLTAIRE François Marie Arouet de Elémens de la philosophie de Neuton.

Bengesco, II, 1570 (note) ; DiLaura, 355 (note).

Important Paris edition of Newton’s famous translation.

This 1741 edition is the first to be fully published and revised under Voltaire’s authority in Paris. It contains a long dedicatory epistle to Emilie Du Châtelet. First published in 1738, subsequent editions are all slightly different, as Bengesco indicates: “Les XXIVe et XXVe chapitres de 1738 ne furent pas réimprimés en 1741 ; Voltaire substitua des morceaux de sa composition à ces deux chapitres auxquels il n’avait eu, dit-il aucune part”.

“It was not until 1741 that an edition fully under Voltaire’s control was published in Paris. It differed dramatically from the first. Among other changes, Voltaire added an entire introductory part, La Métaphysique de Newton, eliminated some chapters, and added others” (DiLaura). 

This edition is lavishly illustrated with Voltaire’s portrait, 7 plates (one folding) and 72 engraved vignettes (most of them copper-engraved).

A very fine copy.

Provenance : Jean Armand Tronchin (engraved book plate by Choffard, dated 1779)