Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

Fine Books & Manuscripts

Wed, Sep 18, 2019 12:30AM EDT
Lot 428

The Doctrine of Chances.

Estimate: $400 - $600

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$30 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
De Moivre, A[braham]. The Doctrine of Chances. London: Printed for A. Millar, 1756. Third edition. Quarter leather over cloth, cover stamped with the seal of University College London; prize bookplate, partially printed, awarded to noted British scientist Robert Bellamy Clifton, 1853. Blind-tooled spine with raised bands, all edges red, marbled endpapers. Engraved headpieces and tailpieces, tables in text. 4to. A few light spots, leather scratched, but sturdy and clean. Jessel 383. A foundational mathematical text, and one of the earliest works treating probability theory as it related to games and gambling. In this third edition, information on annuities and actuarial science. A highly regarded French mathematician, De Moivre kept the company of James Stirling, Isaac Newton, and Edmond Halley.