Lot 47
Moivre, Abraham de
Annuities upon Lives
The Library of James Stirling, Mathematician
Auction: 23 October 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
or, the Valuation of Annuities upon any Number of Lives; as also, of Reversions. To which is added, an Appendix concerning the Expectations of Life, and Probabilities of Survivorship. London: by William Pearson, 1725. 8vo (22.1 x 13cm), contemporary sprinkled calf, twin fillet frames gilt to covers, [2] 4 viii 108 [2] pp., P3 (final printed leaf) comprising a table on each side (the first headed ‘Dr Halley’s Table of Observations, exhibiting the Probabilities of Life'), P4 probably an original blank, binding rubbed, front joint cracking, manuscript correction to p. 87 [ESTC N30304; Kress 3595; Tomash & Williams M113]
Footnote
First edition, presentation copy from the author to James Stirling, inscribed by Stirling ‘Ja: Stirling Ex dono Authoris’ on the front pastedown, with an extensive manuscript list of errata to the initial blank, unsigned but in the hand of Abraham de Moivre.
‘Abraham de Moivre pioneered the newly emerging field of probability and statistics … [His] assumptions of a uniform death rate after the age of twelve and uniform interest rates became the basis for annuity and insurance rates for the next 150 years. This landmark volume is de Moivre’s major work in the area' (Tomash & Williams).