Philosophy
Rare Philosophy Books for Sale Online
Raptis Rare Books is a trusted antiquarian book dealer of rare and first edition philosophy books. You can view our full collection of these rare philosophy books below where you can sort by title, price, or date to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
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First Edition of John C. Maxwell's 5 Levels of Leadership; Inscribed by Him in the year of Publication
MAXWELL, John C.
5 Levels of Leadership.
New York: Center Street, 2011.
First edition of this inspirational work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, "To Melody J. Maxwell 12.11." Very good in a very good dust jacket, marginalia. Jacket design by Brand Navigation.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 141311
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First Edition of C.S. Lewis' A Christian Behaviour: A Further Series of Broadcast Talks
LEWIS, C.S.
A Christian Behaviour: A Further Series of Broadcast Talks.
London: Geoffrey Bles, 1943.
First edition of the of the second book of Lewis’ BBC radio talks which would later appear in Mere Christianity. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 132613
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First edition in English of John Calvin's Commentarie upon S. Paules Epistles to the Corinthians
CALVIN, John.
A Commentarie upon S. Paules Epistles to the Corinthians.
London: Imprinted by Thomas Dawson for John Harison and George Byshop, 1577.
First edition in English of John Calvin's commentaries on the Pauline Epistles. Octavo, bound in full speckled calf with raised bands to the spine, all edges red, rebacked. Title within architectual woodcut border, woodcut initials. In very good condition. First editions are rare.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 96188
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First Edition of John Kotter's Force For Change: How Leadership Differs from Management; Inscribed by Him
KOTTER, John P.
A Force For Change: How Leadership Differs from Management.
New York: The Free Press, 1990.
First edition of this insightful book on leadership. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "For Richard Miller With Best Regards, John Kotter 7/91." Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by W. Scot Carouge.
Price: $400.00 Item Number: 106426
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First edition in English of Sigmund Freud's A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis; In the Rare Original Dust jacket
FREUD, Sigmund.
A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis.
New York: Horace Liveright, 1920.
First edition in English of the most popular and widely translated of Freud's works, containing 28 lectures regarding his views on the unconscious, dreams, and neuroses. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Authorized translation with a preface by G. Stanley Hall. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Bookplate and ownership signature to the pastedown. Rare with only a handful of examples appearing at auction in the last 90 years.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 137144
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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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“Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought": First Edition of John Rawls Magnum Opus A Theory of Justice; Signed by Him
RAWLS, John.
A Theory of Justice.
Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971.
First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by John Rawls on the front free endpaper. Near fine in an excellent dust jacket with some rubbing. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Books signed by Rawls are rare.
Price: $22,000.00 Item Number: 99758
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First Edition of The Thomas Merton Reader
MERTON, Thomas. Edited by Thomas P. McDonnel.
A Thomas Merton Reader.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, 1962.
First edition of the definitive text on Merton's thought and development. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Anita Walker Scott.
Price: $65.00 Item Number: 110470
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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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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 full contemporary calf, gilt titles to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, morocco spine label, raised bands. In very good condition, name to the title page. Translated by William Ellis.
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 143050
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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: J. Johnson, 1792.
Rare first edition of this landmark work in both Enlightenment philosophy and the history of feminism. Octavo, bound in full morocco, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition with some light toning to the text, contemporary name to the title page. Housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional example.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 110854
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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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First Edition of A Way Of Seeing; Inscribed by Margaret Mead and Rhoda Metraux
MEAD, Margaret and Rhoda Metraux.
A Way Of Seeing.
New York: The McCall Publishing Company, 1970.
First edition of this work by these two legendary anthropologists. Quarto, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by both authors in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, "For Lola and Ted affectionately- Rhoda and Margaret Mead February 1970." The recipient was an assistant to Margaret Mead. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Tere LoPrete.
Price: $475.00 Item Number: 122386
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"Long before the emergence of Hitler I made the cause of Zionism mine because through it I saw a means of correcting a flagrant wrong": Rare first edition of Albert Einstein's About Zionism
EINSTEIN, Albert. Introduction by Leon Simon.
About Zionism: Speeches and Letters by Professor Albert Einstein.
London: The Soncino Press, 1930.
First British edition (which precedes the American edition by one year) of this volume of Einstein's speeches and letters concerning his views on Zionism. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in the scarce original dust jacket which is lacking the spine.
Price: $1,150.00 Item Number: 126038
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"Long before the emergence of Hitler I made the cause of Zionism mine because through it I saw a means of correcting a flagrant wrong": Rare first edition of Albert Einstein's About Zionism
EINSTEIN, Albert. Introduction by Leon Simon.
About Zionism: Speeches and Letters.
New York: The MacMillan Company, 1931.
First edition of this volume of Einstein's speeches and letters concerning his views on Zionism. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the scarce original dust jacket which is in near fine condition.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 132449
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Richard Rorty's Achieving Our Country; with a postcard signed by Rorty to poet Alvin Feinman laid in
RORTY, Richard.
Achieving Our Country: Leftist Thought in Twentieth-Century America.
Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1998.
First edition, second printing of Rorty's treatise on the American Left in the 20th century. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, from the library of Alvin Feinman with an autograph postcard signed by Rorty to him laid in which reads, "Dear Alvin, Although it's not my custom in giving you anything political in nature, I thought you might like to see this new book by your old friend. Happy Birthday Belatedly! All my love to you, R.R. Please give Debbie my love too." The recipient, Alvin Feinman, was a renowned American poet. His influences included poets William Blake, William Wordsworth,…
Price: $475.00 Item Number: 120101
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Etching of Albert Einstein by Hermann Struck; Signed by Both Struck and Einstein
EINSTEIN, Albert; Hermann Struck.
Albert Einstein Signed Etching.
1923.
Etch bust of Albert Einstein done by well-known artist Hermann Struck. Signed by both Einstein and Struck, numbered 49/150. In fine condition. Double matted and framed, the entire piece measures 12.25 inches by 15 inches. An exceptional piece.
Price: $14,000.00 Item Number: 95890
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Etching of Albert Einstein by Hermann Struck; Signed by Both Struck and Einstein
EINSTEIN, Albert; Hermann Struck.
Albert Einstein Signed Etching.
1923.
Lithograph portrait of "the father of modern physics", Albert Einstein by well-known artist Hermann Struck. Signed by Einstein, "Albert Einstein 1923" and Struck, "Herman Struck 138/150". In fine condition. Matted and framed, the entire piece measures 19.75 inches by 15.5 inches. An exceptional piece.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 127204
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Etching of Albert Einstein by J.J. Muller; Signed by Both Muller and Einstein
EINSTEIN, Albert; J.J. Muller.
Albert Einstein Signed Etching.
1933.
Lithograph portrait of "the father of modern physics", Albert Einstein by well known artist J.J. Muller boldly signed by both the artist and Albert Einstein. In fine condition. Matted and framed, the entire piece measures 19.75 inches by 15.5 inches. An exceptional piece.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 141399
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Signed Photograph of Albert Einstein in Jerusalem; The Only One Known to Exist
EINSTEIN, Albert.
Albert Einstein Signed Photograph.
1923.
Extremely rare original photograph boldly signed "Albert Einstein Jersusalem 1923" during his only trip to Palestine in 1923. Einstein's return voyage from his tour of Japan and China took him via the Red Sea and Suez Canal which allowed him to accept the invitation of Arthur Ruppin, the director of the Palestine office of the Zionist Organization in Jaffa to visit the region for twelve days. Einstein arrived in Port Said on February 1, 1923, and from there he traveled to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Haifa. The photographer, Zvi Oron, began his career in Warsaw and the United States…
Price: $60,000.00 Item Number: 141301
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Original Photograph signed by Nobel Peace Prize Winner Albert Schweitzer
SCHWEITZER, Albert.
Albert Schweitzer Autograph Signed Photograph.
Large photograph of Albert Schweitzer in Lambarene purchasing supplies for the hospital, signed and inscribed by him. The entire piece measures 13 inches by 11 inches. One of the largest signed photographs we have seen or handled.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 117846
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Large Lithograph of Nobel Peace Prize-Winner Albert Schweitzer; Signed by Him and Artist William Sharp
SCHWEITZER, Albert; Artist William Sharp.
Albert Schweitzer Signed Lithograph.
Signed by the artist William Sharp in pencil. Inscribed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer, "A Mr John Zuber avec mes bonnes pensees Albert Schweitzer. Lambarene 13. Juin 1960." The translation reads, "To Mr John Zuber with my good wishes Albert Schweitzer Lambarene 13th June 1960." Schweitzer received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life”, expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, now in Gabon, west central Africa. The lithograph measures 14.5 inches by 11.5 inches. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures…
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 41060
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First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket
WILSON, William [Bill W.].
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism.
New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, 1939.
First edition of Bill Wilson’s classic work, one of the best-selling books of all time, having sold 30 million copies. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with the spine lightly toned, contemporary name to the front free endpaper. An exceptional example.
Price: $55,000.00 Item Number: 143075
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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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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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"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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“A DISTINCT STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EMPIRICAL SCHOOL”: FIRST EDITION OF JAMES MILL’S MAGNUM OPUS, ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOMENA OF THE HUMAN MIND; WITH A 4 PAGE AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED LETTER TO LORD ASHLEY IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION
MILL, James.
Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind.
London: Baldwin and Cradock, 1829.
First edition of this classic exploration of the processes of human thought by the father of John Stuart Mill, whose own “logical and ethical doctrines are evidently suggested” by this work. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, armorial stamp to the front panel of the Earl of Shaftesbury, with a four page autographed letter signed by James Mill discussing his interest in the book to Lord Ashley dated 8 July 1829, the year of publication of this volume. Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury was a British politician, philanthropist, and a social reformer. He was the eldest son of…
Price: $7,200.00 Item Number: 141327
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"The prescription of the equality of human beings is not a description of an alleged actual equality among humans: it is a prescription of how we should treat human beings": First Edition of Animal Liberation; Inscribed by Peter Singer
SINGER, Peter.
Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals.
New York: Random House, 1975.
First edition of Singer's landmark work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Peter Singer on the title page. Small name to the front free endpaper, near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Janet Halverson.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 63878
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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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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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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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“The deeper the Self-realization of a man, the more he influences the whole universe by his subtle spiritual vibrations, and the less he himself is affected by the phenomenal flux": First Edition of Autobiography of A Yogi; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket
YOGANANDA, Paramhansa.
Autobiography of a Yogi.
New York: The Philosophical Library, 1946.
First edition of one of the most important spiritual books of the twentieth century, Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Preface by Walter Evans-Wentz. Uncommon in the original dust jacket.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 130643
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“The deeper the Self-realization of a man, the more he influences the whole universe by his subtle spiritual vibrations, and the less he himself is affected by the phenomenal flux": Autobiography of A Yogi
YOGANANDA, Paramhansa.
Autobiography of a Yogi.
New York: The Philosophical Library, 2005.
Reprint of one of the most important spiritual books of the twentieth century, Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition.
Price: $75.00 Item Number: 135452
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First Edition of the 50th Anniversary Edition of John Stott's Basic Christianity; Inscribed by Him
STOTT, John R.W.
Basic Christianity.
Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
First edition of the 50th Anniversary edition of the Stott's classic work, originally published in 1958. Octavo, original black boards. Inscribed by the author on the title page, "For ____ with best wishes from John Stott." Fine in a fine dust jacket. Books signed by John Stott are uncommon.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 2246
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First Edition of Burton Richter's Beyond Smoke and Mirrors; Inscribed by Him
RICHTER, Burton.
Beyond Smoke and Mirrors.
New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
First edition of this insightful overview of climate change science by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Burton Richter. Octavo, original glossy boards. Inscribed by Burton Richter on the front free endpaper. In near fine condition, without the dust jacket as issued.
Price: $275.00 Item Number: 34014
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First edition of C.S. Lewis's Broadcast Talks; in the rare original dust jacket
LEWIS, C.S.
Broadcast Talks: Reprinted with Some Alterations from Two Series of Broadcast Talks (Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe and What Christians Believe) Given in 1941 and 1942.
London: Geoffrey Bles, 1942.
First edition of the transcripts of Lewis's Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe and What Christians Believe; part of his series of BBC radio talks made between 1941 and 1944 during the Second World War. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a good dust jacket, name to the title page.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 141309
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Rare first edition of Christian Martyrdom in Russia
TOLSTOY, Leo. Vladimir Tchertkoff.
Christian Martyrdom in Russia: Persecution of the Spirit-Wrestlers (or Doukhobortsi) in the Caucus.
London: The Brotherhood Publishing Co, 1897.
First edition of Tchertkoff's work on the persecution of the Doukhobors. Octavo, original wrappers. In good condition.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 135138