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From the library of Charles Darwin: First edition of Herbert Spencer's The Study of Sociology; with a presentation inscription from Spencer to Darwin
SPENCER, Herbert.
The Study of Sociology.
London: Henry S. King & Co, 1873.
First edition, association copy of famed English philosopher Herbert Spencer's classic work on the evolution of society; presented and inscribed by him to Charles Darwin. Octavo, original publisher's cloth with gilt titles to the spine, dark green endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, "Charles Darwin with the Author's kind regards." English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist Herbert Spencer invented the expression "survival of the fittest" which he coined in his Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859). A description of the mechanism of natural selection, in Principles of…
Price: $110,000.00 Item Number: 141586
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“DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIALLY A MEANS, A UTILITARIAN DEVICE FOR SAFEGUARDING INTERNAL PEACE AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM”: Rare First Edition of THE ROAD TO SERFDOM; INSCRIBED BY F.A. HAYEK
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Road to Serfdom.
Chicago: University of Chicago, 1944.
First edition of one of the most influential and popular expositions of classical liberalism. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Mr. Allan T. Preyer at the Luncheon of the 'Ad ' Club New York April 11, 1945 with cordial regards of F. A. Hayek." Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Foreword by John Chamberlain. First editions are rare, presentation copies exceptionally so.
Price: $82,000.00 Item Number: 130745
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"BY FAR THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ABOUT AMERICA”: RARE FIRST EDITIONS IN ENGLISH OF BOTH VOLUMES OF TOCQUEVILLE’S MASTERPIECE DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA; IN THE RARE ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S CLOTH
TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Translated by Henry Reeve.
Democracy in America.
New York: George Dearborn and J. & H.G. Langley, 1838 and 1840.
First edition in English, of Tocqueville’s magnum opus. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher's cloth. Without the blank leaf between the appendix and notes in volume one. Likely a review copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper, "Editor of the North American Review, with respects of Weeks Jordan & Co. Boston, Publisher." The North American Review was the first literary magazine in the United States. It was founded in Boston in 1815 by journalist Nathan Hale and others. It was published continuously until 1940, after which it was inactive until revived at Cornell College in Iowa under Robert Dana in 1964.…
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 137299
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"Considered the greatest single contribution to logic to appear since Aristotle": Russell and Whitehead's work Principia Mathematica
RUSSELL, Bertrand and Alfred North Whitehead.
Principia Mathematica.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1950.
First edition of volume one and second editions of volumes two and three, in the rare dust jackets of Russell and Whitehead's monumental work. Octavo, three volumes, original cloth. Rare and desirable.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 140610
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"One of the 100 best books of any kind of the 20th century": First Edition of Hannah Arendt's Masterpiece The Origins of Totalitarianism; Inscribed by Her in the Year of Publication
ARENDT, Hannah.
The Origins of Totalitarianism.
New York: Harcourt Brace, 1951.
First edition of this masterpiece, by one of the most important and influential thinkers of the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed and dated in the year of publication by Hannah Arendt on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with some rubbing and chips. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 143024
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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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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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"THE KING OF PHILOSOPHERS": Exceptionally Rare First Edition of the First Complete English Translation of The Works of Plato
TAYLOR, Thomas. [Plato].
The Works of Plato, Viz. His Fifty-Five Dialogues, and Twelve Epistles, Translated From the Greek; Nine of the Dialogues by the Late Floyer Sydenham, and the Remainder by Thomas Taylor: With Occasional Annotations on the Nine Dialogues Translated by Sydenham, and Copious Notes, by the Latter Translator.
London: Printed for Thomas Taylor, By R. Wilks, Chancery-Lane, 1804.
First edition of the first complete English translation of the works of Plato. Quarto, five volumes bound in full pebbled cloth retaining contemporary black morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, half-titles, engraved frontispiece to volume I. In the words of the Prometheus Trust, "Taylor's Works of Plato, has two outstanding features which make it an essential component to the genuine philosophers library. Firstly, Taylor himself translates Plato's Dialogues from within the ancient Greek Tradition. No English translator, before or since, has been so completely at one with the Greek philosophical and religious world view: Taylor fulfills, to the highest degree,…
Price: $14,000.00 Item Number: 131256
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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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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 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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“DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIALLY A MEANS, A UTILITARIAN DEVICE FOR SAFEGUARDING INTERNAL PEACE AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM”: Rare First Edition of THE ROAD TO SERFDOM
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Road to Serfdom.
Chicago: University of Chicago, 1944.
First edition of one of the most influential and popular expositions of classical liberalism. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with two small chips to the front panel. Foreword by John Chamberlain. First editions are rare.
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 135903
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“Working on the right things is what makes knowledge work effective": First Edition of Peter F. Drucker's The Effective Executive; Signed by Him
DRUCKER, Peter F.
The Effective Executive.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.
First edition of Drucker's classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Peter F. Drucker on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $7,800.00 Item Number: 23008
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Living with an Alcoholic: With the Help of Al-Anon; Signed by Bill and Lois Wilson
WILSON, Bill and Lois.
Living with an Alcoholic: With the Help of Al-Anon.
New York: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters Inc, 1964.
Early printing of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by both Bill and Lois Wilson on the front free endpaper, "From Lois B. Wilson, all good wishes" and "Yours, Bill." Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed by both Bill and Lois Wilson.
Price: $6,500.00 Item Number: 130675
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First Edition of Peter Drucker's Landmark Work Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices; Signed by Him
DRUCKER, Peter F.
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.
First edition of this management classic. Octavo, original red cloth. Boldly signed Peter Drucker on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with touch of rubbing. Jacket design by Roy La Grone. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $4,800.00 Item Number: 44009
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First Edition of Peter Drucker's Landmark Work Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices; Signed by Him
DRUCKER, Peter F.
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.
First edition of this management classic. Octavo, original red cloth. Boldly signed Peter Drucker on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with touch of rubbing. Jacket design by Roy La Grone. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 117889
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“DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIALLY A MEANS, A UTILITARIAN DEVICE FOR SAFEGUARDING INTERNAL PEACE AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM”: Rare First Edition of THE ROAD TO SERFDOM; Finely Bound by the Harcourt Bindery
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Road to Serfdom.
Chicago: University of Chicago, 1944.
First edition of one of the most influential and popular expositions of classical liberalism. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. Foreword by John Chamberlain. First editions are rare.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 144304
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"The hospitable soul makes me wiser and bolder by provocation": The Autograph Centenary edition of the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson; one of 600 numbered copies containing a double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into vol. i
EMERSON, Ralph Waldo.
The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson with a Biographical Introduction and Notes by Edward Waldo Emerson and a General Index.
Cambridge: Printed at the Riverside Press, 1903.
The Autograph Centenary edition of the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of 600 numbered copies containing a double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into volume one. Octavo, 12 volumes, original publisher’s cloth with printed paper spine labels, illustrated with numerous mounted photogravures, frontispiece portrait of Emerson to Vol. I with lettered tissue guard. One of 600 numbered copies signed by the publisher and with an original double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into volume one, this is number 515. The manuscript leaf reads in full, "Will anyone question the will of an aristocracy? Not, whilst there is…
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 144526
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Rare first edition set of Benjamin Jowett's The Dialogues of Plato; attractively bound
JOWETT, Benjamin.
The Dialogues of Plato. Translated into English with Analyses and Introductions.
Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1871.
First edition of Jowett's complete translation of the Dialogues which succeeded in making Plato an English classic. Octavo, four volumes, bound in three quarters vellum over suede-covered boards, gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. In near fine condition, bookplate. A rare and attractive set.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 131238
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Finely Bound Set of Plato's Dialogues
PLATO,.
Plato’s Dialogues.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1892.
Finely bound set contains Plato's Dialogues. Octavo, five volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt portrait to the front and rear panels of each volume, all edges gilt, inner dentelles. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. In fine condition. An exceptional set.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 140887