Two Treatises of Government: In the former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown. The latter is an Essay Concerning The True Original Extent, and End of Civil-Government.

LOCKE, John.

Item Number: 129805

London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black-Swan in Pater-noster Row, 1694.

Rare second edition of Locke’s famed treatises on government. Octavo, elaborately bound in full morocco with gilt tooling to the spin in five compartments within raised gilt bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, quadruple gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panel, gilt turn-ins. In near fine condition with occasional ink corrections.

Locke's Two Treatises of Government were first published anonymously in December 1689. Locke was unhappy with this edition, complaining to the publisher about its many errors. For the rest of his life, he was intent on republishing the Two Treatises in a form that better reflected his meaning. The First Treatise of the volume attacks patriarchalism in the form of sentence-by-sentence refutation of Robert Filmer's Patriarcha, while the Second Treatise outlines Locke's ideas for a more civilized society based on natural rights and contract theory.