194 / 198
193
162
GRAVESANDE, Willem Jacob s’.
Physices elementa mathematica, experimentis confirmata sive
Introductio ad philosophiam Newtonianam.
Leyde, Petrus Vander Aa, 1725 & 1721.
2 tomes en un
vol. in-4 (235 x 200 mm), de 13 ff. dont le titre en rouge et noir avec vignette, 345 pp., 2 ff. de table,
47 planches dépliantes ; 4 ff. dont le titre en rouge et noir avec vignette, 199 pp., 6 ff. de catalogue,
1 f. dépliant de table, 1 f. blanc, 25 planches dépliantes ; vélin, tranches rouges (
reliure de l’époque
).
1 500 / 2 000
€
DSB V, p. 510 : “The scientific reputation of s’Gravesande is enshrined in this book, wich he constantly
corrected and amplified in later editions” ; Bierens de Han, 1806 ; Wallis, Newton and Newtoniana,
82 et 82.1. ; pas dans Vagnetti.
Le premier tome, d’abord imprimé en 1720, est ici en deuxième édition. Le tome II est quant à lui en
édition originale.
s’Gravesande était l’un des premiers savants à exposer et diffuser les théories de Newton en Europe.
Dans ce traité, il décrit nombre de nouveaux instruments, illustrés sur les nombreuses planches.
Quelques taches et traces d’utilisation.
Provenance : G. W. Wegner (signature ancienne).
The most influential text book on Newtonian science and experimental methods published before
1750. s’Gravesande was the earliest influential exponent of Newtonian philosophy in continental
Europe with his major being widely read.
163
GRIMALDI, Francesco Maria.
Physico-Mathesis de Lumine, coloribus, et iride, aliisque sequenti
pagina indicatis.
Bologne, héritiers de Vittorio Benati, 1665.
In-4 (235 x 175 mm) de 12
ff.n.ch.(dont
le premier blanc, titre présent en double tirage, avec et sans la grande vignette gravée sur le titre),
535 pp., 8
ff.n.ch. ; vélin ivoire à rabats, dos lisse
(reliure moderne dans le style de l’époque).
8 000 / 10 000
€
Albert, Norton, & Hurtes, Source Book of Ophthalmology, 919 (“Grimaldi’s work on the discovery of the
diffraction (Newton’s inflexion) of light… considered a classic in the history of optics, this work makes the
first scientific attempt to establish the wave theory”) ; Kemp, The Science of Art, p. 285 ; Becker, 105 ; DSB,
V, 542-545 ; Vitry, 429.
Édition originale du seul ouvrage publié de Grimaldi.
Il marque le début de la théorie ondulatoire de la lumière et contient d’importantes observations sur les
propriétés des couleurs et leur relation à la lumière.
“
Grimaldi’s primary contribution to positive science was the discovery of optical diffraction... These
diffraction experiments showed Grimaldi that a new mode of transmission of light had been discovered
and that this mode contradicts the notion of an exclusively rectilinear passage of light. Diffraction thus gave
prima facie evidence for a fluid nature of light... [Grimaldi] discussed other fluid phenomena analogously
with light. To explain color and the varieties of color he decided that “a change in agitation” of luminous
flow is responsible. Knowledge of his work appears in the work of both Hooke and Newton
” (DSB).
“
The first and only edition of Grimaldi’s work on the discovery of the diffraction of light was edited
by Girolamo Bernia and published two years after the author’s death. Grimaldi, a Jesuit professor of
mathematics at Bologna, summarized his optical observations in this work which is a classic in the history
of optics
” (Becker).
Traces de mouillure sur le corps de l’ouvrage, taches rouges occasionnelles.
First edition of Grimaldi’s only book ; he describes the discovery of optical diffraction. This is perhaps
the rarest of all great optical books, and marks the first scientific attempt to establish a comprehensive
wave theory of light which had influence on the research by Hooke and Newton.