Opticks
Opticks is Isaac Newton's treatise on light and colour, first published in English in 1704, printed for Samuel Smith and Benjamin Walford, printers to the Royal Society. It reports experiments with prisms and lenses and closes with a set of Queries. A Latin version followed in 1706.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First edition
- printed for Sam Smith and Benj. Walford, 1704
- First published
- Samuel Smith and Benjamin Walford, 1704
The first edition of Opticks by John Conduitt was published in London by printed for Sam Smith and Benj. Walford in 1704. We track 1 edition.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st printed for Sam Smith and Benj. Walford1704 Hardback I own Opticks, printed for Sam Smith and Benj. Walford 1704 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 22 on Open Library, 20 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 30 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of Opticks?
The first edition of Opticks by John Conduitt was published in London by printed for Sam Smith and Benj. Walford in 1704.
How many editions of Opticks are there?
We track 1 edition of Opticks, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Where these facts come from
- Opticks, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Newton, Opticks, first edition, first issue (lot 168), Bonhams, 2015 (bonhams.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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