*SOLD*
 
Die Mechanik in ihrer Entwickelung
(The Development of Mechanics or The Science of Mechanics)
Ernst Mach
Leipzig, 1883
 
First edition of Ernst Mach’s influential work on mechanics. One copy in the British library and a few on the market that have been rebound or in various states of disrepair. The work that massaged Einstein’s gray matter towards General Relativity – important (the understatement of this writeup).
 
Near Fine in original publisher’s binding. A shade faded on spine, touch of general rubbing on the covers. Marbled edges, internally quite clean. A very sound, excellent copy and rarely seen as such.
 
Ernst Mach (February 18, 1838 – February 19, 1916) made major contributions to physics, philosophy, and physiological psychology. In physics, the speed of sound bears his name, as he was the first to systematically study super-sonic motion. He also made important contributions to understanding the Doppler effect. His critique of Newtonian ideas of absolute space and time were an inspiration to the young Einstein, who credited Mach as being the philosophical forerunner of relativity theory. His systematic skepticism of the old physics was similarly important to a generation of young German physicists. (Stanford)