On the theory of compound colours, and the relations of the colours of the spectrum." In: Philosophical Transactions, 150, Part I, pp. 57-84

London: Taylor and Francis, 1860. First Edition. Wraps. Near Fine. First Edition. [12],1-184 pages + 6 plates in rear, some folding. 4to (9 x 11 3/4 inches). Printed paper wrappers, uncut and unopened. Some scuffing and soiling to the wrappers, front wrapper starting to separate. Spine browned. The entire Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. For the Year MDCCCLX Vol. 150. - Part I (as issued). Maxwell's paper is found on pages 57-84. Wraps. "Maxwell's place in the history of physics is fixed by his revolutionary investigations in electromagnetism and the kinetic theory of gases, along with substantial contributions in several other theoretical and experimental fields: (1) color vision, (2) the theory of Saturn's rings ...Maxwell created the science of quantitative colorimetry. He proved that all colors may be matched by mixtures of three spectral stimuli, provided subtraction as well as addition of stimuli is allowed." An extended discussion of Maxwell's work in color theory is found in the Dictionary of Scientific Biography.

This paper summarized many of Maxwell's findings, his experimental approaches, and credits work done by others (in the late 1840s there were many people in Edinburgh working on color.)

See DSB, Vol 9/10, pp 199-202.