VOLTAIRE, (F.M.A. de).

Elémens de la Philosophie de Neuton, Mis à la parté de tout le monde.

Amsterdam, Etienne Ledet & Compagnie, 1738.

8vo. In contemporary full sprinkled calf with five raised bands and richly gilt spine. Wear to extremities, corners bumped and with loss of leather, spine-ends with loss of leather. With a small printed note pasted on to lower margin of title-page. Ex-libris pasted on to verso of front board. Pencil annotations to front free end-paper and previous owner's names in ink. A few pages slightly browned, but internally generally nice and clean. (6), XII, 399, (1), 401-410, (6) pp. + 1 frontispiece and 7 engraved plates. Numerous engraved headpieces, vignettes and diagrams throughout. Wanting the portrait. 

First edition - with the imprint of Amsterdam publisher Ledet, to whom Voltaire had sent the manuscript - of this important work in which Voltaire introduced Newton in France and thereby ending the Cartesian era.
"Voltaires importence for the history of science lies particularly in his having composed a famous popularization of Newton, Élemens de la Philosophie de Newton (1738), which also collaborating with his companion and mistress Émilie, marquise de Chatelet, on her translation of the Principia into French, and more generally in his having referred, with the lightness of touch that made him a serious critic of human condition, his moral philosophy to what he took to be Newtonian, and hence the correct, account of physical reality." (DSB XIV:p.83). - G.J.Gray No. 155.

Order-nr.: 62659