The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms by Sir Isaac Newton 1728 First Edition

The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended. To which is Prefix'd A Short Chronicle from the First Memory of Things in Europe, to the Conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great. By Sir Isaac Newton. London: J. Tonson et al., 1728, 4to.

 

THE RARE FIRST EDITION OF ISAAC NEWTON'S OCCULTIC ATTEMPT TO VERIFY ANCIENT HISTORICAL EVENTS USING ASTRONOMICAL PRINCIPLES.

 

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The majority of the treatise is in the form of six chapters that explore the history of specific civilisations. These chapters are titled: Of the Chronology of the First Ages of the Greeks; Of the Empire of Egypt; Of the Assyrian Empire; Of the two Contemporary Empires of the Babylonians and Medes; A Description of the Temple of Solomon; Of the Empire of the Persians.

According to John Conduitt's introductory letter, The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended was Isaac Newton's last personally revised work before his death but had actually been written much earlier. Some of its subject material and contents have led many people to categorise this work as one of Isaac Newton's occult studies.

The work treats figures from Greek mythology, such as the centaur Chiron and the Argonauts, as historical fact. It contains three attractive foldout engraved plates relating to Solomon's Temple.

An excellent copy, comparable to the one which sold at Sotheby's December 13th 2022 lot 198 for £2,520.

 

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Size: 209 x 264 mm (approx.)

Condition: 

[(1), A4, a4, B-Z4, Aa-Xx4, Yy1, 3 foldouts, Yy2-Zz4, AAa-BBb4, (1)]

 

Contemporary full calf binding, rebacked laying down an earlier tooled morocco label to the spine between raised bands. Joints and hinges secure, with both boards securely attached. A little rubbed, but generally externally very good. No attached bookplates. Some discolouration to 2F2 verso and 2G1 not affecting textual legibility with some mild wormholing to outer margin of a few leaves in the centre of the page block, not affecting text and largely imperceptible. Upper portion of title leaf laid down with a smaller portion of the next leaf laid down, without text loss, with some dampstaining in the upper margin terminating circa leaf D1, but never affecting textual legibility. Early ink ownership inscription to head of title scored out. Ink ownership inscription surrounding title to pp.1 (B1) dated 1775, faded, but legible (Gavin Tindall, 10th feb 1775). Else exceptionally clean throughout the text block, bright, and well preserved. The full text is legible without any loss of sense. Collated as complete, including the three foldout plates, though without the original blanks. An excellent copy of a scarce Newton first edition.

 

[ESTC N2784].