In the 1650 inventory of the papers which after René Descartes' death were left in Stockholm, a scientific manuscript curiously entitled Parnassus was mentioned. It contained the first mathematical discoveries of the great French philosopher. Although this work was never recovered the Swedish libraries and archives preserve a number of scientific collections which amply compensate this early loss. Among them the most significant is undoubtedly the Waller collection, which for its invaluable richness may be certainly looked at as Descartes did with his Parnassus.
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