Manuscripts
Most of the manuscripts in this collection came from Sotheby's 1936 Portsmouth sale of Newton's papers. They include correspondence, research notes, and documents, over 30 of which are in Newton's hand. The collection demonstrates the wide range of Newton's activities: his extensive studies of alchemy and theology, his work for the Royal Mint and the Royal Society, as well as his personal records. Highlights include: "A Treatise or Remarks on Solomon's Temple," with commentary and six sketches of plans and architectural details drawn by Newton, "Praxis," considered one of his most important alchemical manuscripts, and an illustrated alchemical text picturing the Philosopher's Stone. Another notable manuscript is "Lib. Chem," Newton's inventory of over 100 alchemical books in his personal library, with shelf marks. The collection also contains correspondence and documents written by Newton's contemporaries. Of particular note is a letter from Gottfried Leibniz to Nicolas Bernoulli written in June 1713, in which Leibniz entreats Bernoulli to help justify his claim to priority over Newton in the discovery of the calculus.The collection maintains the arrangement in which it was received from The Burndy Library at The Dibner Institute for the History of Science. Items are arranged in the following order: Boxes 1–4: Manuscripts, arranged sequentially according to the Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton catalog numbers. Boxes 5-7: Oversize Manuscripts, arranged sequentially according to the Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton catalog numbers. Box 8: A Treatise or Remarks on Solomon's Temple.
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