MARTIN, Benjamin "Philosophia Britannica" [W. Strahan, 1771] Isaac Newton

[NEWTON] MARTIN, Benjamin. Philosophia Britannica: Or, A New and Comprehensive System of the Newtonian Philosophy, Astronomy, and Geography; In a Course of Twelve Lectures; With Notes; Containing the Physical, Mechanical, Geometrical, and Experimental Proofs and Illustrations of All the Principal Propositions in Every Branch of Natural Science: Also a Particular Account of the Invention, Structure, Improvement and Uses of All the Considerable Instruments, Engines, and Machines; With New Calculations Relating to Their Nature, Power, and Operation.

London: Printed for W. Strahan; J. & F. Rivington; W. Johnston; Hawes & Co.; T. Carnan and F. Newbery; B. Collins; W. Frederick; and sold by the Author at his House in Fleet-Street, 1771. Third edition. Complete in four volumes. Three text volumes plus a separate atlas volume of plates. Quarto. Approximately 8.5" x 5.5". Vol. I: xxx + 333pp + 3 ads; Vol. II: xiv + 390pp + 2 ads; Vol. III: x + 405pp + index. Atlas volume with 81 engraved copperplates, the majority folding. Contemporary or near-contemporary half marbled calf over marbled boards, with one repair to the upper spine of Vol. IV. Bindings sound and well-aligned. Engraved plates clean and strong with no losses; folds supple and correctly opening. Text generally clean throughout with manuscript annotations on the versos of the plates linking them to the relevant portions of text. Overall Very Good to Very Good+.

Third and expanded edition of Benjamin Martin’s monumental exposition of Newtonian natural philosophy, combining physics, astronomy, geography, mechanics, and experimental science into a single unified system. The work includes extensive treatment of optics, celestial motion, gravitation, hydrostatics, pneumatics, electricity, and the mechanical powers, alongside detailed explanations of contemporary scientific instruments and experimental apparatus. The separate atlas volume contains 81 finely engraved plates illustrating astronomical systems, orreries, telescopes, microscopes, air pumps, electrical machines, engines, survey instruments, and mechanical demonstrations.

This third edition represents the fully mature state of Martin’s project as a practical synthesis of Newtonian science for broad professional use in the later eighteenth century. Unlike earlier editions, which often survive without the full engraved apparatus, this issue consolidates the theoretical text and the mechanical-visual program into a coherent instructional system. The separate atlas format allows for larger, clearer mechanical and astronomical engravings than the inline plates of earlier printings, making this edition particularly well suited for institutional reference in the history of science, technology, and scientific pedagogy.