LAPLACE Pierre Simon Traité de Mécanique Céleste.

Printing and the Mind of Man, 252; Norman, 1277; Horblit, 63; Dibner, 14; En français dans le texte, 201; Bibl.Mechanica, p.197.

First edition of Laplace’s masterpiece, his fundamental work on celestial mechanics.

Published over a period of 27 years, Laplace’s Traité codified and developed the theories and achievements of Newton, Euler, d’Alembert and his contemporary Lagrange. In the tradition of Newton’s Principia, Laplace “applied his analytical mathematical theories to celestial bodies and concluded that the apparent changes in the motion of planets and their satellites are changes of long periods, and that the solar system is in all probability very stable” (Dibner).

“Newton remained uncertain with respect to the continuity of our solar system. In this work Laplace also offered “a brilliant explanation of the secular inequalities of the mean motion of the moon about the earth – a problem which Euler and Lagrange had failed to solve. He proved that these irregularities are connected with certain solar actions and changes in the orbit of earth. He also investigated the theory of the tides and calculated from them the mass of the moon” (PMM).

“Termed the eighteenth-century Almagest and a sequel to Newton’s Principia, this work deals with general laws of mechanics, gravitation and motions of celestial bodies” (Horblit).

A fine copy, complete with the three very rare supplements.