MONTUCLA, Histoire des Mathématiques, 1799-1802
MONTUCLA, Jean-Étienne.
Histoire des mathématiques, dans laquelle on rend compte de leurs progrès depuis leur origine jusqu'à nos jours.
Paris, Henri Agasse, 1799-1802.
Four volumes 4to (249x196 mm), (4)-viii-739 pages and 12 folding plates / (4)-717-(1) pages and 14 folding plates / viii-832 pages, portraict and 17 folding plates / (4)-688 pages, portraict and 2 folding plates. binding : XIXth century half calf, spine in five compartments. Binding rubbed. Joints splitting.
Most complete edition in 4 volumes.
The first edition was published in 2 volumes, Montucla was to complete it with a third but died before its publication. It is Jérôme De La Lande who will finally publish the last two volumes according to Montucla's notes.
A reference on the history of mathematics.
references: DSB [IX, 501 :"Montucla's major work, the first classical history of mathematics, was a comprehensive and, relative to the state of contemporary scholarship, accurate description of the development of the subject in various countries. The account also included mechanics, astronomy, optics and music which were then considered subdivisions of mathematics. The first volume covers the beginnings, the Greeks (including the Byzantines) and the West until the start of the seventeenth century ; the second volume is devoted entirely to the latter century. Montucla originally planned to take his work up to the middle of the eighteenth century in a third volume but could not do so, principally because of the abundance of material. In the second edition, extended to cover the whole eighteenth century, he was able to reach this goal. Much remained unfinished, however, since Montucla died during the printing of the third volume. Lalande, his friend from childhood, assisted by others, completed volumes III (pure mathematics, optics, mechanics) and IV (astronomy, mathematical geography, navigation) and published them in 1802"].
Price : 950 €
