VARIGNON Pierre Elémens de Mathématique.

DSB, XIII, 584-86.

First edition of a scarce book, published posthumously. This is an introduction to algebra and geometry based on Varignon’s courses given at the Collège Mazarin. Varignon (1654-1722), member of the Académie des Sciences and one of the outstanding scientists of his time, was an intimate friend of Newton, Leibniz and the Bernoullis. He demonstrated the principle of the parallelogram of forces simultaneously with and independently of Newton. He was the first Frenchs scientists of note to advocate the new differential calculus. Fine copy, from the Grandidier library (book plate).