{"id":524546,"date":"2025-10-24T10:59:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T10:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/524546\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T10:59:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T10:59:24","slug":"mathematicians-library-sold-at-auction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/524546\/","title":{"rendered":"Mathematician’s library sold at auction"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Edinburgh on Thursday the personal library of the world-famous Scottish mathematician James Stirling was sold by auctioneers, Lyon & Turnbull.<\/p>\n

Stirling made significant contributions to mathematics in the fields of infinitesimal calculus and infinite series. He gave his name to two major innovations,\u00a0Stirling\u2019s formula and\u00a0Stirling numbers.<\/p>\n

As well as being a personal friend of Sir Isaac Newton, the founder of universal gravitation, he was one of the first Newtonian mathematicians, developing and expanding Newton\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

The mathematician died in Edinburgh in December 1770 at the age of 78 and he is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.<\/p>\n

The sale was conducted live in the auction room and online and the library was sold for almost \u00a3817,000.<\/p>\n

Cathy Tait, Head of Books & Rare Manuscripts with Lyon & Turnbull said:\u00a0 \u201cWe are absolutely delighted with the results of the auction of the library of James Stirling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cStirling was one of the most influential Scottish mathematicians of the eighteenth\u00a0century, corresponding with key scientists and mathematicians of the Enlightenment era.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt has been an honour to work with his books, scientific instruments and manuscripts in the sale.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Highlights of the sale included:<\/p>\n