Analyse des infiniment petits, pour l’intelligence des lignes courbes.
Paris: De l’Imprimérie Royale, 1696. First edition of the first exposition of the differential calculus, which includes the original publication of ideas developed by Leibnitz and Bernoulli. With eleven copper-engraved folding plates, an engraved title-page vignette, and two engraved head- and tail-pieces. Seven of the folding plates have been repaired at the fore-margin, with no loss of content but with some old marginal soiling. Occasional light text soiling. Old oval library stank in blank margin of one leaf, and bookplate of the Bibliotheca Lamoniana on front pastedown. Contemporary ownership signature of Louis Gon de Bergonne, Me. de Compter (a French finance minister) in the top margin of the title-page. Some twentieth-century light pencil scribbling, apparently in a child’s hand. Still, a good copy of an important mathematics book. Full modern antique-style calf. Quarto. . [18], 181, [3] pp. (Item ID: 14204)
$4,500.00
L’Hospital (1661-1704) is best known for the rule which bears his name for calculating the limiting value of a fraction whose numerator and denominator either both approach zero or both approach infinity. In this, his most important work, he acknowledges his debt to his sources, but also claims credit for some work which was not his own.
The Norman copy in contemporary vellum sold for $5,500 plus hammer in 1998. Norman, 1345.
