IVORY, JAMES.

On the Grounds of the Method which Laplace has given in the second Chapter of the third Book of his Mécanique Céleste for computing the Attractions of Spheroids of every Description. Read July 4, 1811. (+) II. On the Attractions of an extensive Class of Spheroids. Read November 14, 1811. (2 Papers).

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1812). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1812 - Part I. Pp. 1-45 a. 46-82. A small loss of paper in inner margin of first leaf. No loss of text. Fine and clean.

First printing of an importent paper in which Ivory comments the methods used by Laplace and substitutes analytical methods for some of Laplace's geometrical considerations. Laplace himself paid tribute to Ivory's work.

"Ivory's scientific reputation, for which he was awarded many honours during his lifetime, including knighthood of the Order of the Guelphs, Civil Division (1831), was founded on the ability to understand and comment the work of the French analysts rather than any great originality of his own...Ivory's work, conducted with great industry over a long period, helped to foster in England a new interest in the application of analysis to physical problems." (DSB VII. p. 37).

Order-nr.: 42621