Elementa matheseos universae . . . editio nova, priori multo auctior et correctior. by WOLFF, Christian, Freiherr von (1679-1754) - 1732

Geneva:: Marc-Michel Bousquet, 1732-41., 1732. 5 volumes. 4to. 246x202 mm. xxiv, 526; viii, 396, [2]; vii, [1], 581, [1]; viii, 374, [2]; [8], 501 pp., including errata leaf at end of Volumes 2 and 4. WITH THE FINE COPPER-ENGRAVED PORTRAIT OF WOLFF BY DAUDET AS FRONTISPIECE, AND WITH 164 FOLDING ENGRAVED PLATES; occasional browning, scattered soiling and stains, some early marginalia. Contemporary vellum boards, marbled edges; somewhat soiled, spines darkened. Preserved in the Robert Honeyman-commissioned quarter red morocco slipcases. Stamps of the Cologne Gymnasium on titles; signatures of E. F. August dated 1822-23; bookplates of Robert Honeyman IV. [The August – Honeyman – Gutzwiller copy]. Later edition, published in Geneva, of the 1713 Latin version of Wolff's 1710 Anfangsgrunde aller mathematischen Wissenschaften, a textbook used as the basis for teaching mathematics through the end of the 18th century. This massive work encompasses all the aspects of mathematics, arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, infinitesimal calculus, mechanics, statics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, aerometry, optics, perspective, catoptrics, astronomy, geography, hydrography, chronology, gnomonics, pyrotechnics, civil and military architecture, and perspective. The fifth volume contains a survey of historical mathematical literature, a guide to the teaching of mathematical disciplines, and indexes. This set is entirely complete and is notably from the Honeyman collection, thus a known provenance. / Christian Wolff (less correctly Wolf, also known as Wolfius; ennobled as Christian Freiherr von Wolff in 1745) was a German philosopher. Wolff was the most eminent German philosopher between Leibniz and Kant. His main achievement was a complete oeuvre on almost every scholarly subject of his time, displayed and unfolded according to his demonstrative-deductive, mathematical method, which perhaps represents the peak of Enlightenment rationality in Germany. / PROVENANCE: Cologne Gymnasium – manuscript signature initials ‘E. F. August’, dated 1822-23, probable: Ernst Ferdinand August (1795-1870) – Robert B. Honeyman Jr. (Sotheby-London, lot 3135, Honeyman sale, 20 May 1981) – Martin C. Gutzwiller (1925-2014) (Swann, lot 204, Apr 03, 2014 - Sale 2343). REFERENCES: DSB XIV, p. 483; Houzeau & Lancaster 9344; Sotheran, II Suppl., no. 857.