Strabane man finds copy of 300-year-book in grandfather’s attic

A STRABANE man has discovered the only copy in Ireland of a first edition science textbook written by Sir Issac Newton in the 1700s.

The local man, who wished to remain anonymous, also found a collection of rare 18th century books whilst cleaning out his grandfather’s house in Lifford.

Found in his attic was a first edition English translation ‘Opticks’ book, written by Sir Issac Newton in 1704.

Alongside this rare find, a prayer book written by John Wesley, an English cleric and theologian, in the mid-1780s, of which is believed to be another all-Ireland first.

Speaking about his find, the Strabane man said he was ‘amazed’ by the quality retained by the books over the years.

“These books, especially the Issac Newton one, is immensely valuable,” he said. “I checked with museums in Cork, Belfast and Dublin and they all confirmed that this would be the only edition found in Ireland.

“It’s an interesting book because it was originally written in Latin first, but this would be the first edition to be written in English,” he said.

“My grandfather was a close friend to Gabriel Montomery, who was a surveyor in Donegal and sat on the Grand Jury.

“Many of these books were given to my grandfather by Montgomery who had signed them at the front.”

Also amongst the find was a copy of the Strabane canal plans which was drawn up in the 1700s to connect the Foyle through Tyrone and to Fermanagh.

“Gabriel Montgomery was such a well-renowned surveyor that the men planning the canal submitted a copy of the map to Montgomery for corrections,” the man said. The Strabane man hopes to have the books restored so as to aid the preservation of quality for years to come. He further hopes that a museum will take the books for archive or display.