The Principia
by Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton's Principia (Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica) was first published in London in 1687, printed by Joseph Streater by order of the Royal Society with Edmond Halley paying the costs. It sets out Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First published
- Royal Society (printed by Joseph Streater), London, 1687
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Editions
- University of California Press2014 Other I own The Principia, University of California Press 2014 Log in to want this
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Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 2 on Open Library, 1 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 73 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Isaac Newton
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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
How many editions of The Principia are there?
We track 1 edition of The Principia. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was The Principia first published?
The Principia by Isaac Newton was first published in 1687.
Where these facts come from
- Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica (1687), Wellcome Collection (wellcomecollection.org)
- Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Q205921), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
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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