The system of the world
London: Richard Phillips, 1809. 2 vols. 8vo. [iv], viii, 379; [iv], iii, [i], 375 pp., including half-titles. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Contemporary half-polished calf and marbled boards, gilt spine, marbled edges; a wonderful, exceptionally clean copy with the bookplate of A.P. Thompson on each paste-down. Item #19243
First English edition, originally printed in Paris, 1796, here translated by J[ohn] Pond (1767-1836), sixth Astronomer Royal of England. A remarkable work which presents the author’s explanation of the origin and formation of the solar planetary system. Laplace’s celebrated nebular hypothesis as well as his discoveries on the rotation of the moon, its elliptic path, etc., are included.
The work is divided into five books. The last book contains the author’s brilliant history of astronomy, which was considered a masterpiece of French literature, and procured his admission to the French Academy.
DSB, XV, pp. 273-403; see Printing & the Mind of Man, 252.
Price: $1,500.00