Newton’s Opticks reprocessed in full colour

Our Rare Books and Special Collections copy of Newton’s Opticks was one of the first things we digitized years ago. Recently we went back to the archival master files and reprocess the pages in full colour to enhance the readability of the marginalia. Sometimes cited as McGill MS 46 this is Newton’s own copy with extensive manuscript additions and corrections.

You can download the full book from our catalogue or you can see the original by visiting the Rare Book and Special Collections reading room during opening hours.

Page 139. Newton, Isaac, Samuel Smith, and Benjamin Walford. 1704. Opticks, or, A treatise of the reflexions, refractions, inflexions and colours of light: also two treatises of the species and magnitude of curvilinear figures. London: Printed for Sam. Smith, and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard. McGill University Library Rare Books & Special Collections

Page 139. Newton, Isaac, Samuel Smith, and Benjamin Walford. 1704. Opticks. London: Printed for Sam. Smith, and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-yard. McGill University Library Rare Books & Special Collections. 

Page 73. Newton, Isaac, Samuel Smith, and Benjamin Walford. 1704. Opticks, or, A treatise of the reflexions, refractions, inflexions and colours of light: also two treatises of the species and magnitude of curvilinear figures. London: Printed for Sam. Smith, and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard. McGill University Library Rare Books & Special Collections.

Page 73. Newton, Isaac, Samuel Smith, and Benjamin Walford. 1704. Opticks. London: Printed for Sam. Smith, and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-yard. McGill University Library Rare Books & Special Collections.

Page 35. Newton, Isaac, Samuel Smith, and Benjamin Walford. 1704. Opticks, or, A treatise of the reflexions, refractions, inflexions and colours of light: also two treatises of the species and magnitude of curvilinear figures. London: Printed for Sam. Smith, and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard. McGill University Library Rare Books & Special Collections.

Page 35. Newton, Isaac, Samuel Smith, and Benjamin Walford. 1704. Opticks. London: Printed for Sam. Smith, and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-yard. McGill University Library Rare Books & Special Collections.