Hôtel Drouot > Auction highlights > OVA - THE ARISTOPHIL COLLECTIONS - Sale n°13 - SCIENCE

OVA - THE ARISTOPHIL COLLECTIONS - Sale n°13 - SCIENCE

Monday 19 November 2018

FROM GALILEO TO MARIE CURIE

Spécialist: Guillaume Romaneix

Galileo Galilei, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie... These legendary scientists will be highlighted during the 13^th auction hosted in conjunction with the dispersion of the Aristophil Collections. This first thematic Science auction will present a selection of scientific writings from the Aristophil collections. The sale, orchestrated by Artcurial will be led under the gavel of Francis Briest. These precious manuscripts are as remarkable as they are exquisite, not only for the discoveries they hold but for the important part they played in the history of humanity. Galileo observations, research conducted by Emilie du Châtelet or Marie Curie, this auction is a celebration of scientific discoveries of all magnitudes throughout our history, through a multitude of disciplines.

The scientists at the origin of these writings are known to have devoted their entire life to research, such as Albert Einstein. An impressive autographed manuscript signed by one of the greatest scholars of history will be presented. Unpublished as of yet, this text dated 1941-45, discusses the «Theory of Everything» on which Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) worked his entire life, without ever obtaining proof. These pages are one of the few testimonies of this yet unfinished research still in private hands … (estimate: €50,000 - 70,000).

Other important writings by Albert Einstein will also be included in this auction, including pages of calculations, diagrams and handwritten letters.

Also extremely sought after, a copy of Sidereus nuncius by Galileo Galilei, printed in 1610 (estimate: €18,000 - 25,000). This is the second edition of the first book based on Galileo’s observations taken through his astronomical telescope made earlier that same year. The illustrations of this edition representing the Milky Way on a black background are striking.

Even rarer, the first French language geometry manual published in 1511 by Charles de Bovelles (1478 - 1567), with the title Geometry en francoys : a copy of this edition will be presented in this auction, when only three others are known to exist in French and foreign public collections (estimate €30,000 - 50,000).

A module of the auction will be devoted to philosophy, including a copy of the original edition of Discours de la méthode. This René Descartes masterpiece (1596-1650), containing the famous phrase «I think, therefore I am», is the pivotal element of Cartesian thinking whose philosophical scope was immense. This 1637 edition carries an estimate of €20,000 - 30,000. A manuscript by Isaac Newton (1643- 1727), mathematician, physicist and philosopher will also be part of this section of the sale. This much sought-after text is one of the few writings actually penned by Newton himself, still in circulation today. In it, the philosopher virulently criticises the Catholic Church (estimate €15,000 - 25,000).

Echoing Isaac Newton’s work, in 1736-1738 Voltaire writes «De la nouvelle philosophie de Newton. [Followed by:] Essai sur la nature du feu et sur sa propagation » In these manuscripts, the illustrious 18th century philosopher develops upon Newton’s ideas. The book’s dedication epistle, contains a fervent tribute to the marquise du Châtelet. Indeed, it was the marquise who instigated Voltaire’s research on Newton’s work. These precious writings (estimate 25,000 - 35,000) contain autographed corrections and annotations by Voltaire and the marquise du Châtelet.

Emilie du Châtelet’s personal comments (1706-1749) on Newton’s research will also be included in the auction. The work manuscripts for his « Exposition abrégée du système du monde selon les principes de Monsieur Newton » (circa1745-1749), extensively scratched out, corrected and annotated by his own hand, constitute an exceptional set. With an estimate of €150,000 - 250,000, they were used in the posthumous publication of Voltaire’s work.

Other valuable book in this auction, the original edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1809-1882), published in 1859. This founding work of the theory of evolution is one of the most influential scientific book ever published (estimate €15,000 - 25,000).

Another revolutionary volume, an exceptional typed correction of the second part of Marie Curie’s treaty Radioactivité (1867-1934) will be the culminating point of the auction (estimate €180,000 - 250,000). Published posthumously by Frédéric Joliot and Irène Joliot- Curie, this book, sometimes considered as Marie Curie’s scientific testament, summarizes the current state of knowledge on radioactivity.

In closing, a pioneering volume on electricity: In 1748, Louis-Élisabeth de la Vergne, comte de Tressan (1705-1783) presents before the Royal Academy of Science one of the first treaties on electricity in the French language. An autograph manuscript of this writing, entitled « Essay sur le fluide subtil conu sous le nom d’électricité » will be presented with an estimate of €20,000 - 30,000.

This sale, n° 13, is organised by Artcurial
Total number of lots: 115
Global estimate: €870,400

Public auction – Drouot – Room 1
Monday 19 November 2018 – 2pm

Public exhibition – Drouot – Room 1/7
Monday 12 November – 11am / 6pm
Thuesday 13 November – 11am / 6pm
Monday 19 November – 11am / 12pm

Consultation on demand
From Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th November