A light read… 300-year-old first edition Sir Isaac Newton book on ‘opticks’ goes on sale for £400,000
- ‘Opticks’ is considered one of the greatest works in the history of science
- Leather-bound book has been held by a private collector for the past 50 years
- The rare tome will be sold by Forum Auctions next month on June 9
It would give the book club girls something to gawp at. For a 300-year-old first edition by Sir Isaac Newton is going on sale – and it could be yours for, erm, £400,000.
The extremely rare book, being auctioned next month, is the culmination of 40 years’ research into the properties of light by Newton.
Opticks: Or A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light is considered one of the greatest works in the history of science and second only to Newton’s work on the laws of motion and gravity.
An extremely rare first edition book by Sir Isaac Newton has emerged for sale for £400,000
![Opticks: Or A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light is considered one of the greatest works in the history of science and second only to Newton’s work on the laws of motion and gravity](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/30/02/28995170-8371535-image-a-21_1590801677513.jpg)
Opticks: Or A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light is considered one of the greatest works in the history of science and second only to Newton’s work on the laws of motion and gravity
The leather-bound book, pictured, still in its original condition, has been held by a private collector for the past 50 years.
Only 180 copies are thought to exist.
But this edition is highly sought after because it was one of six presentation copies handed to friends and colleagues by Newton himself.
This edition was given to his close friend, Swiss mathematician Nicolas Fatio in 1704, who inscribed it ‘the most famous gift from the author’ in Latin.
It will be sold by Forum Auctions on June 9.