Beschreibung:

Euler Leonhard. Mechanica, sive Motus scientia analytice exposita... Tomus I [-II]. Санкт-Петербург [Sankt-Peterburg], Tipografija Akademija nauk, 1736. Un'opera in 2 volumi in-4° (mm 265x200). I. [16], 480 [i.e. 488, ripetute per errore nella numerazione le pagine 225-232] pagine. XIV tavole calcografiche numerate ripiegate in fine. Testatina calcografica. II. [8], 500 pagine. XVIII tavole calcografiche numerate ripiegate in fine. Poche pagine con lievissime tracce di polvere. Legatura omogenea coeva in pergamena su cartone, titoli in oro al dorso su doppio tassello, tagli rossi. Leggeri aloni ai piatti. Prima edizione - in bell'esemplare in legatura strettamente coeva e uniforme - di questa famosa opera di Euler (1707-1783), in cui lo scienziato introdusse nell'approccio alla fisica meccanica l'applicazione del metodo analitico in sostituzione di quello geometrico di Newton (Roberts and Trent, pp. 103-104). L'opera gli valse l'apprezzamento di molti affermati scienziati del suo tempo come Johann Bernoulli ("it does honor to Euler's genius and acumen") and Lagrange ("the first great work where Analysis has been applied to the science of motion"). One work in 2 volumes, 4° (265x200 mm). I. [16], 480 [i.e. 488, wrongly repeated the pagination numbers 225-232] pages. XIV folding copper engraved plates. Copper engraved head-piece. II. [8], 500 pages. XVIII folding copper engraved plates. Few leaves slightly dusted. Contemporary vellum over pasteboards, spine with gilt title on double lettering-piece, red edges. Covers slightly spotted. First edition of 'Euler's famous work in mechanics in which he introduced the use of analytical methods instead of the geometrical methods of Newton and his followers' (Bibliotheca Mechanica). In the introduction he outlines a program of studies covering every branch of science, but it is his focus on the systematic application of analytical methods that sets the book apart by laying down a foundation of analytical mechanics. 'Euler was the first to appreciate the importance of introducing uniform analytic methods into mechanics, thus enabling its problems to be solved in a clear and direct way' (DSB). Mechanica won the praise of many leading scientists of the time: Johann Bernoulli said of the work that "it does honor to Euler's genius and acumen" while Lagrange in his own Mécanique analytique acknowledges Euler's mechanics to be "the first great work where Analysis has been applied to the science of motion". Roberts and Trent, Bibliotheca Mechanica, pp. 103-104.