A view of Sir Isaac Newton's philosophy.

4to: [50]-407 pp.; 12 fold. pl. (rather tiny hole in two last lvs touching the text on one p.).

Contemp. mottled calf (corners rubbed and bumped, front cover sl. cracked), spine with 5 raised bands (joints splitting, def. at head and tail), red leather title label, red edges.

First edition of Pemberton's explanation of Newtonianism, the conceptual experimental and philosophical methods attempting to understand the framework of the universe, written for a general audience not having any mathematical training. The work remains one of the most important sources on Newton's later years. The English physician and man of letters Pemberton (1684-1771) studied under Boerhaave at Leiden. As a close friend of Newton, he was invited by him to edit the third edition of the "Principia". The list of subscribers (bound just before the introduction) records Isaac Newton as having ordered 12 books. The work is dedicated to Robert Walpole and is preceded by a preface containing the writer's recollections of the philosopher. Illustrated with 12 engr. fold. plates, an engr. mark on title, 6 engr. headpieces, 6 engr. initials and 5 engr. endpieces. Typographically this was the first book printed in Caslon's Great Primer Roman typeface, designed by William Caslon I (ca. 1692–1766). With its fine headpieces and initials, well balanced pages, and fine paper, the work is considered one of the best English books of the period.
Ref. ESTC T53471.