Exhibition of Newton's Books

Abstract

AN exhibition of books connected with Newton is being held in the Wigan Central Library from November 23 until early in 1943, to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Sir Isaac Newton, at Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, on Christmas Day 1642. The exhibition was conceived and organized by the borough librarian, Mr. Arthur J. Hawkes. He has managed to bring together from the resources of the Wigan Library, supplemented by a few books on loan, a most interesting collection of early works on science. It includes copies of most of Newton's published scientific papers and books, together with about one hundred works of earlier and contemporary authors bearing on Newton's discoveries. The original issues of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society in the possession of the Wigan Library are exhibited, together with the first editions of Newton's “Opticks” (1704), loaned by Messrs. Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., and the “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” by Copernicus (1543), loaned by the Earl of Crawford. Messrs. Sotheran, Ltd., have loaned the copy of Isaac Barrow's edition of Euclid which was used by Newton as a student at Trinity College and bears many annotations in Newton's handwriting. All the books exhibited carry lengthy notes attached to them explaining their interest and significance in connexion with Newton.