NEWTON, Isaac (1642–1726/27). Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. London: William & John Innys, 1726.

The third and final edition published during the author’s lifetime, the basis for all subsequent editions. “Pemberton was invited to superintend the editing of the third edition of the Principia […] Pemberton was then about thirty years old and was rightly flattered to get the opportunity to work so closely with the great eighty-year-old Newton. However, Newton often ignored Pemberton’s editorial suggestions. Pemberton wrote ‘A View of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy’, which he had partly read to the dying Newton. It made no great mark but could at least be recommended as being propaedeutic” (DNB). The edition includes Newton’s Prefaces to previous editions and his new one mentioning Halley’s comet as well as many alterations, “the most important being the scholium on fluxions, in which Leibnitz had been mentioned by name. This had been considered an acknowledgement of Leibnitz’s independent discovery of the calculus. In omitting Leibnitz’s name in this edition, Newton was criticized as taking advantage of an opponent whose death had prevented any reply” (Babson). The 1726 edition was printed in 1250 copies, of which this copy is one of the 1000 copies of the regular Demy issue, with the others printed on larger paper. Henry P. Macomber and Gerald G. Grubb, “A census of the owners of copies of the 1687 first edition of Newton’s Principia”, PBSA 47 (1953), 269–304, p.293. Babson 13.

Quarto (245 × 184mm). Half-title, engraved frontispiece of Newton by George Vertue after I. Vanderbank, title-page printed in red and black (spotting and occasional small stains, upper corners of first three leaves repaired, repair in title-page from removed stamp, neat tears in frontispiece, 2P2 and 3X3, paper flaw in 3U4 responsible for missing word). Later calf to style with red morroco lettering piece, blind-ruled (rubbed along joints and edges, a few light scratches).

The binding description and condition was updated on 1 February 2026. The binding is not contemporary.