PBA Galleries

4 volumes. xxiv, 746, [1]; xviii, 990, [1]; xxix, [1], 910, [107]; 1018 pp. With engraved portrait of Laplace in Vol. III, and of Nathaniel Bowditch and his wife Mary Bowditch in Vol. IV. (lg 4to) 29x23 cm (11¼x9"), 19th century full calf with gilt-stamped armorial shields on the covers, spines decoratively tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces, marbled endpapers and edges. First Edition in English.

Lovely set of Nathaniel Bowditch's translation of Laplace's masterwork, with important notes and commentary. The Dictionary of American Biography states: "So elaborate were the notes in elucidation and in attempting to bring the subject up to date, that the completed work contained nearly 4000 quarto pages and was considerably more that twice the size of the original. This was Bowditch's most notable piece of scientific work and made an epoch in American science by bringing the great work of Laplace down to the reach of the best American students of his time." Richard Bateman, in his notes on his collection, writes "These four volumes, as set, are the most beautiful in my collection, and perhaps the most valuable."