THE CALCULUS - THE INFINITESIMAL METHOD

NEWTON, ISAAC.

La Methode des Fluxions, et des Suites Infinies Par le Chevalier Newton. (Translated by G. Louis Le Clerc, ount de Buffon).

Paris, De Bure, 1740.

4to. Contemporary half calf, raised bands, richly gilt spine and and red speckled edges. Leather title-label to spine. Corners neatly repaired. Title in red/black. (2), III-XXX, (2) Errata, 148 pp., many diagrams. The "Preface" and the first 18 leaves of the text with a foxing to lower margin and right corners. The "Preface" is an historical account of Newton's method "la sublime méthode", written by Buffon. Without the leaf "Extrait des Registres".

The influential first French edition of Newton's important work, which constitutes the most extensive description of the mathematical method he used in his famous "Principia", the method of infinitesimals, which was already written about 1671, but not published until 1736, i.e. posthumously, with the title "Method of Fluxions and Infinite Series...".

In this work "Newton stated clearly the fundamental problem of the calculus: the relation of quantities being given, to find the relation of the fluxions of these, and conversely. In conformity with this problem and the new notation, Newton then gave examples of his method....In this book Newton introduced his characteristic notation and conceptions. He regarded his variable quantities as generated by the continuous motion of points, lines and planes, rather than as aggregates of infinitesimal elements, the view which had appeared in "De analysi"...The rate of generation Newton called a "fluxion", designating it by means of a letter with a dot over it, a "pricked letter", the quantity generates he called a "fluent".( Boyer, The History of the Calculus.).

Colson (in his preface to the first edition from 1736) says: "I gladly embraced the opportunity that was put into my hands, of publishing this posthumous work, because I found it had been composed with that view and design. And that my own Country-men might first enjoy the benefit of this publication, I resolved upon giving it an English translation, with some additional remarks of my own, I thought it highly injurious to the memory and reputation of the real Author, as well as invidious to the glory of our own Nation, that so curious and useful a piece should be any longer suppress'd and confined to a few private hands, which ought to be communicated to all the learned World for general Instruction.

It was through the French translations of his works that Newton came to play the seminal role as the most important of mathematicians that he did in France, and particularly the years around 1740, when the present work appeared in French for the first time were seminal to the scientific development in France, where the likes of Voltaire had only just made the nation acquinted with the work of the great mathematician.

Gray No 236. Babson No 173.

Order-nr.: 39297