Mathematical Tracts.

First edition of the posthumously-published mathematical papers by a military engineer and leading figure of the British Enlightenment. This copy was owned by Philip, 2nd Earl Stanhope (1714-1786), a contemporary at the Royal Society, and was latterly part of the Cottesloe Military Library. This edition collects Robins's renowned work on the New Principles of Gunnery, various papers read to the Royal Society, and a biography by James Wilson (1690-1771), among other materials. By applying Newtonian mechanics to contemporary gunnery, Benjamin Robins (1707-1751) is credited with laying the foundations of modern artillery practice. Although largely self-taught and from humble origins, Robins was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1727, where he established a reputation as a defender of Newtonianism against a number of opponents. "Robins's substantial accomplishments in mathematical theory, scientific discovery, technical practice, and literary production place him at the forefront of the British Enlightenment" (ODNB). Provenance: a) Philip Stanhope, a correspondent of Benjamin Franklin, keen follower of science and mathematics, and fellow of the Royal Society (from 1735), with his armorial bookplate on the front pastedown. b) Thomas Francis Fremantle, 2nd Baron Cottesloe (1830-1918), with his late 19th-century armorial bookplate on the front free endpaper. Cottesloe formed an extensive and renowned collection of early printed books focussing on military matters. This collection was dispersed in a two-day sale at Sotheby's in 2019. 2 vols, octavo (200 x 125 mm). With three plates (including one fold-out); diagrams, tables, and formulae in the text. Contemporary speckled calf, spines lettered and ruled in gilt, raised bands and red morocco labels, covers with double-rule panel in gilt, edges sprinkled red. Light bumping and rubbing, minor cracking to front and rear joints of vol. 1 and front joint of vol. 2, all holding firm, a couple of spots of stripping to covers, cosmetic splits to hinges, faint browning to endpapers: a very good copy.…