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Rare Philosophy Books for Sale Online
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Rare early printing of Richard Hooker's monumental Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Politie
HOOKER, Richard.
Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Politie. [Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity].
London: Printed by William Standbye, [1622].
Early printing of this important work by the influential English theologian. Quarto, quarter morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in seven compartments within raised bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, engraved title, divisional titles, and woodcut initials. In very good condition. Bookplate and period ownership inscription. Rare.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 130372
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RARE HANDWRITTEN ETHIOPIAN COPTIC GE’EZ BIBLE ILLUMINATED WITH FULL-PAGE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.
Ethiopia: C. 18th Century.
Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Duodecimo, bound in full leather with elaborate tooling stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, parchment manuscript in black and red ink, with six full-page hand-painted miniatures depicting the Annunciation, the Madonna and child, Saint George slaying the dragon, Michael striking down Lucifer, Saint Tekle Haymanot of Ethiopia, and the Transfiguration of Jesus. The book measures 5 inches in height and 3.75 inches in width. Writing to the final two leaves with a hand-hemmed corner on the last leaf from a previous owner.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 145311
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“THREE THINGS CANNOT LONG BE HIDDEN: THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE TRUTH": The Philosophy of Confucius; finely bound in full morocco by Maurin
CONFUCIUS. TRANSLATED BY JAMES LEGGE. ,.
The Philosophy of Confucius.
Mount Vernon and New York: The Peter Pauper Press, n.d..
First Peter Pauper edition of Legge's translation of the Analects of Confucius. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco by Maurin with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrations by Jeanyee Wong. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 130503
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RARE HANDWRITTEN ETHIOPIAN COPTIC GE’EZ BIBLE ILLUMINATED WITH TWO FULL-PAGE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.
Ethiopia: C. 18th Century.
Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Duodecimo, bound with twine between two wood blocks, parchment manuscript in black and red ink, with full-page hand-painted miniatures depicting the Transfiguration of Jesus, Saint Tekle Haymanot of Ethiopia, Saint George slaying the dragon, the Madonna and child, Jesus and Mary, the Annunciation, the Birth of Jesus, and the Journey to Bethlehem. Housed in the original leather chemise slipcase with leather carrying handle.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 145316
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RARE HANDWRITTEN ETHIOPIAN COPTIC GE’EZ BIBLE ILLUMINATED WITH TWO FULL-PAGE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.
Ethiopia: C. 18th Century.
Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Octavo, bound with twine between two leather covered boards, parchment manuscript of approximately 126 leaves in black and red ink, with full-page hand-painted miniatures depicting Jesus and his sheep, David decapitating Goliath, King David playing the harp, King Solomon, Saint Jerome and the lion, Saint Tekle Haymanot of Ethiopia, the Madonna and child, and the battle of David and Goliath.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 145320
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"Keep true to the dreams of thy youth": The Connoisseur Edition of the Works of Schiller; One of only 150 sets; Bound in Full Morocco
SCHILLER, Friedrich.
The Works of Friedrich Schiller.
Boston: Francis A. Niccolls, c.1900.
Finely bound example of the Connoisseur edition of the works of Schiller, number 34 of only 150 sets printed. Octavo, 10 volumes, bound in full red morocco, ornate gilt tooling to the spine, with pastedowns of red leather borders and central green morocco panel, with floral decorations at the corners and a central gilt sprig of flowers, plates in two states, printed on laid paper with deckled edges. Bookplates on versos of the moire green silk endpapers of New York industrialist John K. MacGowan. In fine condition. An exceptional set.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 129287
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RARE HANDWRITTEN ETHIOPIAN COPTIC GE’EZ BIBLE ILLUMINATED WITH TWO FULL-PAGE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.
Ethiopia: C. 18th Century.
Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Octavo, bound with twine between two wooden boards, wrapped in full floral cloth, parchment manuscript in black and red ink, with full-page vibrant hand-painted miniatures depicting the Madonna and child, Saint George slaying the dragon, the journey to Bethlehem, and the Nine Saints of Ethiopia.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 145322
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RARE HANDWRITTEN ETHIOPIAN COPTIC GE’EZ BIBLE ILLUMINATED WITH TWO FULL-PAGE MINIATURE PAINTINGS
Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.
Ethiopia: C. 18th Century.
Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Small octodecimo, original leather boards, parchment manuscript in black and red ink, with full-page hand-painted miniatures depicting Saint George slaying the dragon, the Madonna and child, Jesus and Mary, and Jesus preaching. Housed in the original leather chemise slipcase with twine carrying handle.
Price: $3,200.00 Item Number: 145189
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First English edition of Leo Tolstoy's The Great Iniquity
TOLSTOY, Leo. Translated by V. Tchertkoff and I. F. Mayo.
A Great Iniquity.
London: The Free Age Press, n.d.
First English edition of Tolstoy's work on peasant welfare in Russia. Octavo, original wrappers. In very good condition.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 135472
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The Weimar edition of The Works of Friedrich Schiller; elaborately bound in full morocco
SCHILLER, Friedrich.
The Works of Friedrich Schiller.
Weimar and New York: The Northern Press, Printed for Subscribers only, n.d.
The Weimar edition of the collected works of Friedrich Schiller. Octavo, 10 volumes bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles, watered silk endleaves and doublures with central gilt mongrams "EHR", top edge gilt, illustrated with numerous hand-colored photogravures. One of 100 numbered copies of the Weimar edition, this is number 2. Provenance: from the collection of Fred and Kay Krehbiel. In very good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 143624
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"Reader if thou wilt do the fame, thy profit will be as great as mine": Exceptionally rare printing of Benjamin Franklin's An Old Man's Experience, or Poor Richard's Maxims Improved
SAUNDERS, Richard [Benjamin Franklin].
An Old Man’s Experience, or Poor Richard’s Maxims Improved.
: , .
Rare printing of Benjamin Franklin's An Old Man's Experience, or Poor Richard's Maxims Improved, published under the pseudonym Richard Saunders in full, "An Old Man's Experience, or, Poor Richard's Maxims Improved. Reader, if you buy this Book, and seriously consider its contents, though it cost thee but a Trifle, it may save thee Many Pounds." Small octavo, original wrappers as issued. No publisher or date listed. In very good condition with tape repair to the spine and rear panel. Exceptionally rare, no other copies matching this title and pagination have come to auction.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 96182
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Rare First Edition of Herodotus' Historiae, in Greek
HERODOTUS; EDITED BY ALDUS MANUTIUS,.
Historiae, In Greek.
Venice: Aldus Manutius, September, 1502.
Rare first edition of Herodotus' history of the Persian Wars, one of the most important texts edited by the great scholar-printer-publisher. Folio, bound in contemporary vellum, woodcut title in Greek and Roman letter, verso with dedication in Latin, text in Greek letter throughout with spaces for capital letters, woodcut device on title and last page. Aldus claims in the dedication that he corrected the text from multiple exemplars, one of the few instances where such a claim by him is justified and can be verified. He was the first to have access to the 'Florentine' codices, where Valla had used the…
Price: $32,000.00 Item Number: 96588
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First edition in English of Johann Jacob Wecker's Eighteen Book of the Secrets of Art & Nature
WECKER, Johannes Jacob.
Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art & Nature, Being The Summe and Substance of Naturall Philosophy, Methodically Digested. First designed by John Wecker Dr in Physick, and now much Augmented and Inlarged by Dr. R. Read. A like work never before in the English tongue.
1660: Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St. Pauls Church-yard, London.
First edition in English of Reade's 17th century adaptation of Johann Jacob Wecker's De secreti libri xvii [Book of Secrets] of 1582. Folio, bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine, woodcut printer's device to the title, woodcut head and tailpieces and initials, numerous woodcut diagrams in the text. In near fine condition. Lacking the engraved frontispiece, title page supplied. Exceptionally rare.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 127083
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First edition of Volume 24 of the Journal of Symbolic Logic; Including The First Appearance of Saul A. Kripke's Landmark Essay A Completeness Theorem in Modal Logic
KRIPKE, Saul A.
The Journal of Symbolic Logic: A Completeness Theorem in Modal Logic.
New Haven, New Jersey: Association for Symbolic Logic, Inc, March 1959.
First edition of Volume 24 of The Journal of Symbolic which includes the first appearance of Kripke's landmark paper, A Completeness Theorem in Modal Logic. Presentation copy, inscribed by Saul A. Kripke on the first page of his theorem, "For Thorild Dahlquist, Saul Kripke." In this paper, Kripke both proves the formal completeness of modal logic (supplemented by first-order quantifiers and the sign of equality) and “create[s] a semantics, now called Kripke semantics” (Hurley, Logic: The Essentials, 217). “Of great importance is the paper “Semantical Analysis of Modal Logic I” where normal systems are treated. It is here that Kripke…
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 88076
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"Moreover, trust is, I suspect, too deep to explain": Rare Autograph Letter Signed from John Rawls to Annette Baier
RAWLS, John.
John Rawls Autograph Letter Signed.
Cambridge, Massachusetts: January 14, 1985.
Rare autograph letter signed by one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century. Small octavo, one page on Harvard University Department of Philosophy letterhead, the text reads in full, "Jan 14, 1985 Dear Annette Many thanks for your review of Parfit's Reasons & Persons with your splendid & illuminating appreciation of this work. You provide some ways to focus on it which had not occurred to me. I agree with you on its importance & no doubt it will have major effets on contemporary discussion, & into the future. On the other hand, I find myself in certain…
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 146554
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A LANDMARK IN THE HISTORY OF PRINTING, AND ONE OF THE GREATEST ILLUSTRATED BOOKS EVER PUBLISHED: FIRST EDITION OF THE MONUMENTAL NUREMBERG CHRONICLE; Published in 1493 and containing over 1800 splendid woodcuts illustrating the history of the world from the Creation of man to the invention of the printing press
SCHEDEL, Hartmann.
Liber Chronicarum [Nuremberg Chronicles].
Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 1493.
First edition of the most fully realized illustrated book of the fifteenth century and one of the most impressive volumes ever published. Imperial folio, bound in three quarter calf with five raised bands to the spine, morocco title labels lettered in gilt to the spine and front panel, copiously illustrated with 1,809 splendid woodcuts by Wohlgemuth and Pleydenwurff (the teachers of Durer), some full page, others double-page, illustrating Schedel's year-by-year account of notable events in world history from the Creation to the year of publication, including the creation of Adam and Eve, birth of Jesus Christ, invention of printing at Mainz,…
Price: $92,000.00 Item Number: 143505
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Rare 16th century printing of Aristotle's Posterior Analytics; bound with Antonius Andreas's Quaestiones super XII libros Metaphysicae Aristotelis
ARISTOTLE; ANTONIO ANDREAS. EDITED BY WALTER BURLEY AND ROBERT GROSSETESTE,.
Analytica Posteriora [bound with] Quaestiones super XII libros Metaphysicae Aristotelis.
Venice: Gregorium de Gregorijs, 1514.
Rare 16th century printing of Aristotle's Posterior Analytics; bound together with Spanish Franciscan theologian Antonius Andreas's best known work, Quaestiones super XII libros Metaphysicae Aristotelis. Quarto, bound in contemporary parchment over handmade paper-covered boards, woodcut initials, text in two columns. In very good condition. A rare and desirable collection.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 104082
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Rare early 16th century Venetian printing of ARISTOTLE'S INFLUENTIAL WORK ON ZOOLOGY: THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS
ARISTOTLE,.
Aristoteles de Animalibus.
Venetiis: Octaviani Scoticiuis, 1525.
Rare early 16th century Venetian printing of Aristotle's pioneering work on zoology which had a powerful influence on zoology for over two thousand years. Folio, bound in full vellum, illustrated with woodcut initials. In very good condition. Deaccessioned from the Harvard College Library with their stamps and bookplate.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 133419
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"The father of logic": Rare 16th century French printing of Aristotle's Prior Analytics
ARISTOTLE,.
Logica: Aristotelis Ex Tertia Recognitione. Libri Logicorumad Archetypos Recogniti.
Parisiis: Petri Vidouei, 1531.
Rare 16th century French printing of Aristotle's third book of logic. Folio, bound in full vellum, elaborate woodcut vignette-border title-page, illustrated with numerous in-text woodcut diagrams, and woodcut initials. Ownership inscriptions, including that of American philosopher Allan Gotthelf. Gotthelf received many honors for his work on Aristotle, including in 2004 an international conference on "Aristotle on Being, Nature, and Life", held "in celebration of his contributions to the study of classical philosophy and science." In very good condition with some dampstaining and period marginalia throughout.
Price: $2,500.00 Item Number: 133411
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Rare 16th century French printing of Aristotle's influential work of zoology: The History of Animals
ARISTOTLE. TRANSLATED BY THEODORO GAZA,.
Aristotelis De Historia Animalium Libri. IX. [Bound with] De Partibus Animalium, & Earu Causis, Libri IIII; De Generatione Animalium Libri V; Hoc Volumine Continentur.
Parisiis: Ex officina Prigentii Caluarini ad Geminas Cyppas in Clauso Brunello, 1542.
Rare 16th century French printing of Aristotle's pioneering work on zoology which had a powerful influence on zoology for over two thousand years. Octavo, bound in full polished calf, engraved title pages. Rebacked. In very good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 133014
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“For anyone who loves intensely lives not in himself but in the object of his love, and the further he can move out of himself into his love, the happier he is": Exceptionally Rare first edition in English of Erasmus' in Praise of Folly; elaborately bound in full crushed levant morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe
ERASMUS, Desiderius. Translated by Sir Thomas Chaloner.
In Praise of Folie: Moriae Encomium. A book made in latine by the great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Enlightened by Sir Thomas Chaloner, knight. [In Praise of Folly].
London: Thomas Berthelet, 1549.
First edition in English of one of the most notable and popular works of the Renaissance which played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation and swiftly brought its author international fame. First printing with 'latine' and the printer's initials 'TB.' to the title page. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, wide woodcut border to the title page signed…
Price: $275,000.00 Item Number: 139476
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Scarce First edition of Commandino's commentary of Ptolemy's Planisphaerium; one of the few extant examples from the Aldine Press in Roman type
PTOLOMAEUS, Claudius. Edited and with Commentary by Federico Commandino.
Ptolemaei Planisphaerium. Iordani Planisphaerium. Federici Commandini Urbrinatis in Ptolemaei Planisphaerium Commentarius.
Venice: Paulus Manutius (Aldine Press), 1558.
First separate edition and first edition of Commandino's commentary of Ptolemy's Planisphaerium, the original Greek text of which is no longer extant. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in eighteenth century vellum, all edges speckled red, Aldine device on both titles and both final pages, woodcut initials, numerous woodcut diagrams. The Ptolemaei is printed in Roman type and the Planisphaerium in Italics; examples from the Aldine Press in Roman type are scarce as the press's founder, Aldus Manutius, invented the Italic type which he used almost exclusively. The Aldine press was also the first to issue printed books in the small…
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 95289
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First complete edition of Henri Estienne's complete works of Plato
PLATO,.
Opera Quae Extant Omnia. [The Complete Works of Plato].
Geneva: Henricus Stephanus, 1578.
First complete edition, large paper issue of Henri Estienne's monumental edition of the complete works of Plato, which "for two centuries remained the indispensable instrument of Platonic studies; to this day its pagination is universally accepted as the standard system of reference to the text of Plato" (Schreiber 201; Renouard I, 145-46, 1; Hoffmann III 119-21). Folio, three volumes bound in full 8th century calf, neatly rebacked with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, text printed in double columns in Greek and Latin throughout, Latin translation by Jean de Serres, large woodcut printer's device to first title, further…
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 144802
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Rare 16th century printings of John Wolfe's Fictitious Italian editions of Machiavelli's Discourses and The Prince; finely bound together in full morocco
MACHIAVELLI, Niccolò.
Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince].
Palermo: Apresso gli heredi d'Antoniello degli Antonielli , 1584 [London: John Wolfe].
Rare 16th century printing of John Wolfe's famed fictitious Italian editions of Machiavelli's fundamental works of political history and philosophy. Octavo, elaborately bound in full crushed morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and central motifs to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins. In near fine condition with occasional contemporary marginal notes. Rare.
Price: $40,000.00 Item Number: 129484
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Rare First Edition in English of The Machiavelli's Florentine Historie
MACHIAVELLI, Niccolo.
The Florentine Historie. Written in the Italian tongue, by Nicholo Macchiavelli, Citizen and Secretarie of Florence. And translated into English by Thomas Bedingfield Esquire.
London: Printed by T. C. [Thomas Creede] for W. P. [William Ponsonby], 1595.
Rare first edition in English of this classic work. Quarto, bound in full calf, decorated with woodcut engraved ornamental title page and engraved head and tailpieces. In near fine condition with some light browning and wear, title trimmed and laid down. Translated by Thomas Bedingfeld. First editions are scarce, especially in this condition.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 135317
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“THE FATHER OF MODERN DEMOCRACY”: First edition in English of Aristotle's Masterpiece Politiques, or Discourses of Government
ARISTOTLE,.
Politiques, or Discourses of Government.
London: Adam Islip, 1598.
Rare first edition in English of one of the world’s most important and influential political texts, “the most valuable work on that branch of philosophy that has descended to us from antiquity.” Small folio, bound in full leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels. In near fine condition, bookplate, small name to the title page, small paper repair to the first few pages. First editions are exceptionally rare.
Price: $30,000.00 Item Number: 138658
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FIRST SCALIGERO EDITION OF ARISTOTLE'S INFLUENTIAL WORK OF ZOOLOGY: THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS
ARISTOTLE. TRANSLATED BY JULIUS CAESAR SCALIGER,.
Aristotelis Historia de Animalibus, Ivlio Caesare Scaligero Interprete, cum Ejusdem Commentariis.
Tolosae [Toulouse]: Apud Dominicum & Petrum Bosc, 1619.
First Scaliger edition of Aristotle’s pioneering work on zoology which had a powerful influence on zoology for over two thousand years. Folio, bound in full contemporary vellum-covered boards, engraved vignette title page, in-text woodcut illustrations, and numerous woodcut initials throughout. Julius Caesar Scaliger was an Italian scholar and physician, who spent a major part of his career in France. He employed the techniques and discoveries of Renaissance humanism to defend Aristotelianism against the New Learning. In spite of his contentious disposition, his contemporary reputation was high. Jacques Auguste de Thou claimed that none of the ancients could be placed above him…
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 133054
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Rare first edition in English of Machiavelli's fundamental Discourses
MACHIAVELLI, Niccolo. Translated by Edward Dacres.
Machiavels Discourses upon the First Decade of T. Livius translated out of the Italian; With some marginall animadversions noting and taxing his errors. [Machiavelli’s Discourses].
London: Printed for Thomas Paine for William Hills and Daniel Pakeman, 1636.
Rare first edition in English of Machiavelli's fundamental work of political history and philosophy. 12mo, bound in one quarter morocco over marbled boards with an earlier morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Translated by Edward Dacres. Ownership signature. Rare and desirable.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 124249
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Rare First Edition of Leonardo Da Vinci's Trattato della Pittura di Lionardo da Vinci
DA VINCI, Leonardo.
Trattato della Pittura di Lionardo da Vinci. [Leonardo da Vinci].
Paris: Jacques Langlois, 1651.
Rare first edition of this classic treatise of da Vinci's work on painting, two parts in one volume. Folio, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles, engraved portrait of da Vinci in each part, engraved vignette on title, engraved initials, head and tail pieces, engraved text illustrations. In very good condition, marginalia, rebacked. Compiled from his original notes by his pupil Francesco Melzi. First editions are rare.
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 130267
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"Tis I alone that can teach you to make warre, I know what the greatest conquerors knew and are": Rare first edition of this early English translation of Machiavelli's Florentine History
MACHIAVEL, Nicholas. [Niccolo Machiavelli].
The Florentine History in VIII. Books. Now Exactly Translated from the Italian.
London: Printed for Charles Harper and John Amery, 1674.
Rare first edition of this translation of Machiavelli's Florentine history. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with morocco spine label lettered in gilt, triple gilt ruling, fleuron cornerpieces and elaborate blind stamping to the front and rear panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, engraved frontispiece portrait of Machiavelli, rebacked. Ownership inscription. In near fine condition. Rare especially with the original frontispiece.
Price: $4,200.00 Item Number: 122358
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A fine set of the works of Theodoretus; Each Beautifully Painted on the front and back of each panel
Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5).
Paris: Sebastian and Gabriel Cramoisy, 1682-84.
A fine set of the works of Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, beautifully painted on each panel. Quarto, five volumes, bound in full 17th-century vellum, both covers on each volume fully painted with a scene from the life of Christ, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, brown and black morocco lettering pieces. The first four volumes were edited by J. Sirmond and were published in 1642. The fifth volume, not published until 1684, was completed by Sirmond's fellow Jesuit Garnier and contains an auctarium, comprising fragments of commentaries and sermons and some additional letters, together with Garnier's five learned but…
Price: $27,500.00 Item Number: 140490
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Rare third edition in English of Hugo Grotius' Three Books Treating of the Rights of War & Peace
GROTIUS, Hugo. Translated into English by William Evats.
The Most Excellent Hugo Grotius: His Three Books Treating of the Rights of War & Peace. In the First is Handled, Whether any War be Just. In the Second is Shewed, The Causes of War, both Just and Unjust. In the Third is declared, What in War is Lawful, that is, Unpunishable.
London: Printed by M.W. for Thomas Basset at the George in Fleetstreet, and Ralph Smith at the Bible under the Piazza of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1682.
Third edition in English of Higo Grotius' foundational work on international law. Folio, bound in full contemporary paneled calf with a burgundy morooco spine label lettered in gilt, title page printed in red and black, added engraved title by T. Cross Senior bound opposite the printed title page. Translated into English by William Evats. In good condition. Armorial bookplate and period ownership signature.
Price: $5,000.00 Item Number: 138282
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"Virtue which is not supported with gravity gains no repute among men": Rare First edition of La Morale De Confucius
CONFUCIUS,.
La Morale De Confucius, Philosophe De La Chine.
Amsterdam: Pierre Savouret, 1688.
Rare first edition of The Morals of Confucius preceding the English translation, regarded as the first work which introduced readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in half vellum over marbled boards. In near fine condition. An exceptional example, scarce and desirable with only three examples appearing at auction in the last 90 years.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 135381
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"Virtue which is not supported with gravity gains no repute among men": Rare First edition of The Morals of Confucius; A Cornerstone of Chinese Philosophy
CONFUCIUS,.
The Morals of Confucius, A Chinese Philosopher.
London: F. Fraser, 1691.
Scarce first edition in English of The Morals of Confucius, regarded as the first work which introduced English readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in contemporary calf. Consisting of three parts: Of the Antiquity and Philosophy of the Chineses; A Collection out of Confucius's Works in Three Books; and Eighty Maxims. Introductory publishers advertisement. In very good condition, rebacked. An exceptional example. Scarce and desirable.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 133826
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"Virtue which is not supported with gravity gains no repute among men": Rare Early edition of The Morals of Confucius; A Cornerstone of Chinese Philosophy
CONFUCIUS,.
The Morals of Confucius, A Chinese Philosopher.
London: T. Horne, 1706.
Rare second edition in English of The Morals of Confucius. Small octavo, bound in full contemporary sheep contemporary sheep. In very good condition, toning to the extremities.
Price: $3,200.00 Item Number: 107212
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Finely Bound Example of Strabonis Geographia cum notis Casauboni et aliorum
STRABONIS,.
Strabonis Geographia cum notis Casauboni et aliorum.
Amstelaedami; Joannem Wolters, 1707.
Folio, bound in half morocco over cloth, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. In very good condition.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 3604
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“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions": Rare third edition of The Morals of Confucius A Chinese Philosopher
CONFUCIUS,.
The Morals of Confucius A Chinese Philosopher, Who flourished above Five hundred Years before the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Being one of the Choicest Pieces of Learning Remaining in the Nation.
London: Printed for F. Fayram at the South Entrance into the Royal Exchange, 1724.
Rare third edition in English of The Morals of Confucius, the first published work to introduce English readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in full period or period-style speckled calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges speckled red. Small bookplates to the pastedown. Stated second edition, though actually the third edition (a reissue of the edition of 1706, with a cancel title page). In very good condition. All early editions are very…
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 138719
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Finely bound example of Voltaire's epic poem La Henriade
VOLTAIRE,.
La Henriade avec des Variantes et des Notes. Et l’Effai sur le Poëme Epique.
London : Jacob Tonsen, 1734.
Finely bound example of Voltaire's epic poem La Henriade. Small octavo, original leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers. In good condition. Text in French.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 81165
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First edition of Le Coq de Villeray's response to Voltaire’s Letters Concerning the English Nation
VILLERAY, Le Coq de [Voltaire].
Reponse ou Critique des Lettres Philosophiques De Monsieur de Voltaire (Response and Critique of the Philosophical Letters of Mr. Voltaire).
Basle: Chez Christophe Revis, 1735.
First edition of Le Coq de Villeray's response to Voltaire’s Letters Concerning the English Nation, published in 1733. Octavo, bound in contemporary calf, gilt title to the spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. Rare.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 82395
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"THE BOOK THAT INTRODUCED FRANCE TO NEWTONIAN PHYSICS": RARE FIRST EDITION OF VOLTAIRE'S ELEMENS DE LA PHILOSOPHIE DE NEUTON
VOLTAIRE. [AROUET, François-Marie].
Elemens de la Philosophie de Neuton. [Elements of the Philosophy of Newton].
Amsterdam: Chez Jacques Desbordes, 1738.
First edition of one of the most elegantly illustrated science books ever printed and the book that introduced France to Newtonian physics. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, illustrated seven folding engraved plates, headpieces and tailpieces and 60 in-text illustrations. In good condition, lacking the frontispiece.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 128559
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First Edition of An Essay on Civil Government: In Two Parts
An Essay on Civil Government In Two Parts: Part I: An Enquiry into the Ends of Government, and the Means of Attaining Them. Part II: On the Government and Commerce of England; with Reflections on Liberty, and the Method of Preserving the present Constitution.
London: Printed for R. Willock, At Sir Isaac Newton's Head, 1743.
First edition of this bold attack on the Whig administration of Robert Walpole. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt tooling to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges speckled red, rebacked. In very good condition. Armorial and contemporary bookplates to the pastedown. Exceedingly rare.
Price: $4,500.00 Item Number: 90461
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Rare First Edition of Thomas A Kempis' The Imitation of Christ
A KEMPIS, Thomas.
The Christian Pattern, or the Imitation of Jesus Christ, being an abridgement of the works of Thomas a Kempis. By a Female Hand.
Germantown: reprinted by Christopher Sowr, 1749.
First American edition of The Imitation of Christ and the first printing of any work by a Kempis in America and one of the earliest works of Catholic Americana. In very good condition with some browning to the text and rubbing to the extremities.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 112577
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Rare First Edition of Thomas Hobbes' The Moral and Political Works
HOBBES, Thomas.
The Moral and Political Works.
London: 1750.
First edition of the collected works of Hobbes. Folio, bound in full calf to period style, raised bands, gilt spine emblems, red morocco title label, marbled endpapers, frontispiece engraved title page. In very good condition. Containing Leviathan, De Corpore, Human Nature, Behemoth (1679) and other key writings. xxviii, (2) ii, 697 (3) pp. Macdonald & Hargreaves 107. CBEL I:871. See Lowndes, 1077. First editions are rare.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 121929
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First edition, first state of David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
HUME, David.
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.
London: Printed for A. Millar, 1751.
First edition, first state of what Hume, himself, considered his masterpiece with leaf L3 uncancelled and with the catchword "than" on recto. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with five raised bands to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt-turn ins. Half-title, errata, and advertisements at rear. In very good condition. Ownership signature. Housed in a custom folding chemise slipcase. Exceptionally clean internally, most rare and desirable bound in a contemporary binding.
Price: $11,000.00 Item Number: 129419
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"HIS UTOPIA IS ALARMING AND HIS METAPHYSICS ARE INTOXICATING": Rare first edition in English of Plato's Republic
PLATO]. TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK BY HARRY SPENS,.
The Republic of Plato In Ten Books.
Glasgow: Printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1763.
First edition in English of Plato's Republic, marking the first appearance in the English language of Plato's profoundly influential dialogue concerning the nature of justice. Quarto, bound in full polished calf with raised gilt bands to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges speckled red. Harry Spens was a minister at the parish of Wemyss in Fife, and respected classicist. In his introduction he professes his intent in his translation is: "To give the English Reader a view of Plato's sentiments and manner of writing, and to stir up the youth to the study of the Ancients."…
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 138322
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"Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains": Exceedingly rare first edition in English of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's A Treatise on the Social Compact: Or The Principles of Politic Law; the precursor to the French Revolution
ROUSSEAU, Jean-Jacques.
A Treatise on the Social Compact: or The Principles of Politic Law.
London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1764.
First edition in English of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's magnum opus; a seminal treatise on political philosophy and precursor of the French revolution. Twelvemo, bound in full contemporary calf with five raised bands to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, turn-ins stamped in blind, 3pp. advertisements at end. In very good condition. Contemporary annotation to pages 2 and 3, otherwise remarkably clean internally. Exceedingly rare with only a handful of copies traced in auction records, the last one appearing four decades ago.
Price: $40,000.00 Item Number: 145209
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"The public good is in nothing more essentially interested, than in the protection of every individual's private rights": Finely Bound set of william Blackstone's Influential Work Commentaries on the Laws of England
BLACKSTONE, William.
Commentaries on the Laws of England.
Oxford: Printed at the Clarendon Press, 1765.
First edition set of Blackstone's landmark work. Quarto, 4 volumes, bound in full calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, red morocco title labels lettered, raised bands. In near fine condition, rebacked. A very sharp set.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 139240
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RARE FIRST EDITION OF JONATHAN EDWARDS TWO DISSERTATIONS
EDWARDS, Jonathan.
Two Dissertations, I. Concerning the End For Which God Created the World. II. The Nature of True Virtue.
Boston: S. Kneeland, 1765.
First edition of this important work by Edwards. Small octavo, bound in half calf over marbled boards, raised bands, morocco spine label. In very good condition. Rare.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 142014
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Rare First Edition of the First Complete English Translation of The Dialogues of Plato; Signed by Translator Floyer Sydenham
PLATO; TRANSLATED BY FLOYER SYDENHAM,.
Plato’s Dialogues.
London: W. Sandby, 1767-1779.
First edition set contains all eleven parts, although without all the individual dated titles. Part one is signed on the dedication page by the translator Floyer Sydenham as usual, and includes a sheet laid in with manuscript instructions to the binder. Quarto, three volumes, bound in contemporary full calf, armorial bookplate. Dated title pages in volumes one and two, each of eleven parts with undated flytitle and dedication leaf, Lesser Hippias and Dissertation both with additional dated part title, ad leaves at beginning of volume one and after The Banquet, as well "proposal" leaf, errata slip in volume three (a…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 140464
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"But the main thing in view all along has been to vindicate the moral character of the Deity from the injurious representations, either of designing, or well-meaning but mistaken men" First edition of James Dana's Second response to Jonathan Edwards' The Freedom of the Will
DANA, James (Jonathan Edwards).
The “Examination of the Late Rev’d President Edwards’s Enquiry on Freedom of Will,” Continued.
New Haven: Printed for Thomas and Samuel Green, 1773.
First edition of American Protestant clergyman James Dana's second published response to Jonathan Edwards' Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions of the Freedom of the Will, preceded by Dana's prior examination of the same subject published anonymously in 1770. Octavo, original three-quarter period calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, morocco spine labels, raised bands. A rare and desirable example illustrating the tensions that shaped the Evangelical Revival in eighteenth century America.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 82405
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First Edition of Institutio Ad Doctrinam Christianam Liberaliter Discendam
JOHANN SALOMO SEMLER,.
Institutio Ad Doctrinam Christianam Liberaliter Discendam.
Halae Magdebvrgicae, 1774.
First edition. Octavo, three quarters leather over marbled boards. In very good condition.
Price: $400.00 Item Number: 2416
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“Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human": Exceptionally Rare First Edition in English of Aristotle's A Treatise on Government
ARISTOTLE; TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM ELLIS,.
A Treatise on Government. Translated From The Greek of Aristotle.
London: T. Payne, 1776.
First edition in English of this important work on government by Aristotle. Quarto, bound in three quarters leather over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. In very good condition with light toning to the text and wear. Bookseller plate of George Gregory, Bath, Sept. 22, 1936 on the front pastedown. Translated by William Ellis.
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 81182
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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit": The Works of Aristotle in Four Parts
ARISTOTLE,.
The Works of Aristotle in Four Parts: Containing: His Complete Master Piece; His Experienced Midwife; His Book of Problems; His Last Legacy.
London: Printed for, and Sold by all Booksellers, 1777.
Finely bound edition of the works of Aristotle. Octavo, bound in half leather, marbled endpapers, frontispiece of Aristotle. In very good condition. A very sharp example of this important work.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 122932
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“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety": Rare First Edition of Benjamin Franklin's Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces
FRANKLIN, Benjamin.
Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; Arranged under the Following Heads and Distinguished by Initial Letters in each Leaf: General Politics; American Politics before the Troubles; American Politics during the Troubles; Provincial or Colony Politics; Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces.
London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1779.
First edition of "the only edition of Franklin's writings (other than his scientific) printed during his lifetime" (Ford). Octavo, bound half diced calf over marbled boards with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. With the engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin, three engraved plates (one folding), and folding table of the reformed alphabet. In near fine condition. Complete with index, addenda and corrigenda. An exceptional example.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 125035
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Rare First Edition in English of The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
ROUSSEAU, Jean-Jacques.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau: With the Reveries of the Solitary Walker.
London: Printed for J. Bew, 1783.
Rare first edition in English of the author's classic work. 12mo, 2 volumes, bound in full contemporary marbled calfskin. In very good condition, bookplate. Housed in a custom folding case.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 144141
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“Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish": The Translator's Own Copy of the First Edition of The Tragedies of Euripides
EURIPIDES; TRANSLATED BY ROBERT POTTER,.
The Tragedies of Euripides.
London: J. Dodsley, 1783.
First translation of Euripides into English, translated by Robert Potter, from his own library. Octavo, two volumes, bound in contemporary leather, engraved frontispiece to volume I, list of subscribers. The translator's own copy with his inscription, "From the Library of the Rev Robert Potter, M.A., Rector of Lowestoft from 1789 to 1804" to volume one of the front pastedown. Robert Potter was a poet and translator, completed his translation of Euripides in 1783. He established the convention of using blank verse for Greek hexameters and rhymed verse for choruses. In good condition. Rare and desirable, with exceptional provenance.
Price: $2,200.00 Item Number: 135391
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“All the sacred rights of humanity are violated by insisting on blind obedience”: First edition of Mary Wollstonecraft's landmark work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
WOLLSTONECRAFT, Mary.
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects.
London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1792.
Rare first edition of this landmark work in both Enlightenment philosophy and the history of feminism. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Randolph & English. From the library of Virginia chancery lawyer Henry G. Cannon with his ownership inscription to the pastedown and that of his father, the book's previous owner, to the top portion of the title page which has been excised and supplied. Period notation from presumably a member of the Cannon household to the first page of the dedication to M. Talleyrand-Périgord, Late Bishop of Autun, "This Talleyrand is the man who said…
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 124556
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Richard Watson's An Apology for the Bible in a Series of Letters, Adressed to Thomas Paine
WATSON, Richard.
An Apology for the Bible; In a Series of Letters, Addressed to Thomas Paine, Author of a book entitled The Age of Reason, Part the Second, Being and Investigation of True and of Fabulous Theology.
Philadelphia: Printed for W. Young, Mills & Son, 1796.
Rare early printing of this response to Thomas Paine's 'The Age of Reason.' Duodecimo, original full leather with gilt titles and ruling to the spine. In very good condition with rubbing to the extremities, front panel, and spine, some toning throughout, a small loss to the front flyleaf, and bookplates to the front free endpaper and pastedown. Many editions of this book were put out in the same year, all up and down the coast of Colonial America, all fairly small runs.
Price: $2,500.00 Item Number: 146706