The Nature And Laws Of Chance. Containing, Among Other Particulars, The Solutions Of Several Abstruse And Important Problems. The Whole After A New, General, And Conspicuous Manner, And Illustrated With A Great Variety Of Examples. Simpson, Thomas.

First edition of the author's mathematical treatise, popularizing and proving several problems in de Moivre's Doctrine of Chances (1738, second edition). The work led to a brief literary dispute between the two mathematicians. Thomas Simpson (1701-1761), elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1745, is recognised as having made notable contribution to the then little-understood area of Newtonian fluxions and developed an analytical expression of the Newton–Raphson method of approximating the root of an equation. Abraham de Moivre (1667-1754), a Huguenot emigré and fellow disciple of Newton, felt that Simpson's text came too close to his own. In the preface to the second edition of de Moivre's Annuities upon Lives (1743), he wrote: "After the pains I have taken to perfect this Second Edition, it may happen, that a certain Person, whom I need not name, out of Compassion to the Public, will publish a Second Edition of his book on the same Subject, which he will afford at a very moderate Price, not regarding whether he mutilates my Propositions, obscures what is clear, makes a Shew of any Rules, and works by mine; in short, confounds, in his usual way, everything with a crowd of useless Symbols" (p. xii). Although Simpson accused de Moivre of ungentlemanly conduct, the Frenchman was dissuaded by his friends from making any further ripostes. Many of the analyses in this text are rooted in contemporary gaming culture: Simpson considers the probability of winning at bowls, of rolling a given number in dice, and of identifying one's advantage or loss in lotteries. ESTC T78204. Quarto (226 x 167 mm). Modern half calf, spine ruled in gilt, with raised bands and red morocco label, marbled paper sides, Engraved headpieces and initial. Tables and formulae in the text. Partially erased contemporary signature of "Philip F-" to title. Various ink corrections to contents. Very light bumping: a very good copy indeed.