SOMERVILLE, MARY (1780-1872). Mechanism of the Heavens. London: John Murray, 1831.

First edition, a presentation copy, inscribed on the title page: "To Lord Minto / from the author." This copy additionally with an autograph letter from Somerville to Mrs Strettell tipped to the front endpaper.

Although self-taught, Mary Somerville had by the mid-1820s established herself as a significant figure in London scientific circles. In 1831 she published The Mechanism of the Heavens, a condensation of Laplace's Mécanique céleste, and the first in what was to be an immensely successful and influential series of scientific text-books which were to make her arguably the most widely recognized woman of science before Marie Curie. The recipient of this copy, William Hugh Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, the 3rd Earl of Minto, lived in Edinburgh and London. His grandfather was Viceroy of India and his eldest son became Military secretary and Governor General of Canada.

Thick octavo (220 x 139). Uncut, leaves mostly unopened (front hinge starting, first gatherings sprung.) Contemporary green cloth, printed spine label (spine faded, ends rubbed; cloth separating along front joint). Provenance: William Hugh Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, the 3rd Earl of Minto, 1814-1891 (secretarial presentation inscription) – Owen Gingerich (bookplate).

A previous version of this description incorrectly referred to the presentation inscription as by the author. However, it was probably written by staff at her publishers.