NEWTON, Isaac (1642-1727). Opticks: or, A Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflections and Colours of Light. London: W. and J. Innys, 1718.

First octavo edition, second issue, of Newton's investigations into the nature of light, color, and visual perception; second edition overall. The mathematical tracts were omitted "as not belonging to the subject," and the number of queries at the end of book three increased from 16 to 31, including the celebrated query no. 28 on the nature of light ("Are not all Hypotheses erroneous which have hitherto been invented for explaining the Phenomena of Light, by new Modification of the Rays?"). Babson 134; Wallis 176.

Octavo (194 x 121mm). Title in double rule, with final advertisement leaf. 12 folding engraved plates, one illustration in text, woodcut decoration (lightly browned, a few spots). Contemporary English paneled calf (neatly rebacked and recornered).