‘FROM HIS AFFECTIONATE OLD FRIEND & TUTOR’: Harmonics, or The Philosophy of Musical Sounds... The Second Edition [with] A Postscript to Dr Smith’s Harmonics, The Changeable Harpsichord

Fine presentation copy from the book’s author and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge to his former student in the same college, inscribed opposite the title page: ‘To my worthy & honoured friend Ralph Leicester Esq.r, from his affectionate old friend and tutor Rob. Smith.’ Robert Smith has also made a single refinement to the text, firming up his argument slightly in the introduction, replacing the printed ‘supported’ with ‘confirmed’ in the margin. Smith’s reputation as one of the leading mathematicians in the generation after Newton, was established as a Fellow of Newton’s old College where he developed the implications of his revolutionary former colleague’s work. Smith eventually succeeded Richard Bentley as Master of Trinity College in 1742, holding the position until his death in 1768 - this book was no doubt inscribed in the Master’s Lodge. Smith’s former tutee, and recipient of this inscribed copy, Ralph Leycester, hailed from Toft in Cheshire (1699-1777) and the two men stayed in touch for the rest of their lives. Robert Smith was a keen amateur musician and this study of equal temperament in tuning keyboard instruments is informed by his practical passion for music making as well as his keen mathematical brain.

DESCRIPTION:

An attractive octavo bound in speckled calf, lacking the spine label; fleur de lys over coronet decorations to corners of boards. ‘Ralph Leycester’ bookplate to front pastedown. Speckled edges to text block. A single corrections in Robert Smith’s hand at xii (’supported’ becomes ‘confirmed’). This is the second edition which collates complete and is followed by the Postscript of 1762: xx, pp280; diagrams in text and 28 foldout plates; Postscript: pp12, plate, [pp] 14

A very clean copy internally.