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Rare Philosophy Books for Sale Online
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“Though freedom is not a state of nature but an artifact of civilization, it did not arise from design: FIRST EDITION OF THE ECONOMIST’S CLASSIC WORK, THE CONSTITUTION OF LIBERTY; SIGNED BY F.A. HAYEK
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Constitution of Liberty.
London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1960.
First edition of Hayek’s classic statement on the ideals of freedom and liberty. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by F.A. Hayek on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 3502
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“In any society freedom of thought will probably be of direct significance only for a small minority": First Edition of F.A. Hayek's The Road To Serfdom; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Road To Serfdom.
London: Routledge & Sons, 1944.
First British edition of one of the most influential and popular expositions of classical liberalism ever published. Octavo, original black cloth. Very good in the rare original dust jacket with some rubbing and wear to the extremities. The British edition was published in March of 1944, preceding its American counterpart, which was published later that same year in September. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 105942
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First Edition of F.A. Hayek’s Classic Treatise The Constitution of Liberty; Signed by Him
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Constitution of Liberty.
Chicago: The University of Chicago, 1960.
First edition of Hayek’s classic statement on the ideals of freedom and liberty. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by F.A. Hayek on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust price-clipped jacket with a few small closed tears. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 99700
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Rare Carte-de-Visite of John Stuart Mill; Signed by Him
MILL, John Stuart.
John Stuart Mill Signed Carte-de-Visite.
Carte-de-visite signed by philosopher John Stuart Mill. 2.5 inches by 4 inches. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 9.75 inches by 8 inches. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 33088
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FIRST EDITION OF THE COUNTER-REVOLUTION OF SCIENCE; SIGNED BY F.A. HAYEK
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Counter-Revolution of Science: Studies on the Abuse of Reason.
Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press, 1952.
First edition of Hayek’s critique of reason, written at the same time as The Road to Serfdom. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Signed by F.A. Hayek on the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 3645
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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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First Edition of Karl Popper's Conjectures and refutations; Inscribed by Him to Rudolf Serkin
POPPER, Karl.
Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge.
New York: Basic Books, 1962.
First edition of this major work by Popper. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Rudi greatest of pianists and for me the only one with love from Karl March 28th, 1963.” The recipient, Rudolf Serkin, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Beethoven interpreters of the 20th century and was a lifelong friend of Popper’s. Popper and Serkin met in Salzkammergut, Austria in 1919 and their friendship lasted until Serkin’s death in 1991. In 1934, Serkin asked his mother-in-law, Frieda Busch, to bring Popper’s Logik der Forschung (The Logic of Scientific Discovery as it first appeared in German) to the attention of Albert Einstein as the young author did not have an academic position and needed assistance in gaining attention in the scientific community. Einstein responded warmly upon receipt of the book and endorsed the philosophy on all of its essential points. His endorsement created a stir in Vienna and beyond and the book soon received praise from other giants in the field including Rudolf Carnap, Oskar Morgenstern, and Freidrich Hayek. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional association.
Price: $7,800.00 Item Number: 77942
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“Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him": First Edition of John Locke's Some Thoughts Concerning Education
LOCKE, John.
Some Thoughts Concerning Education.
London: Printed for A. and J. Churchill, 1693.
First edition of Locke’s seminal treatise on the education of gentlemen which, for over a century, was the most important philosophical work on education in England. Octavo, bound in full calf with morocco spine label lettered and decorated in gilt, raised bands and ruling to the spine. ruling and floral cornerpieces to the front and rear panels stamped in blind, all edges speckled red. In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth clamshell box. A scarce and important work.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 106030
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"THE KEY FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF HIS THOUGHT": FIRST EDITION OF THE SENSORY ORDER; INSCRIBED BY F.A. HAYEK TO FRIEND AND FELLOW UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PROFESSOR DAVID GRENE
HAYEK, Friedrich August von [F.A.].
The Sensory Order. An Inquiry Into the Foundations of Theoretical Psychology.
Chicago: University of Chicago, 1952.
First edition of Hayek’s foundational study of cognitive behavior—”an exercise in profound thinking.” Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To David Grene with all the best wishes from F.A.H. Nov. 52.” The recipient David Grene, was a professor of classics at the University of Chicago and co-founder of the Committee on Social Thought. In 1950, Hayek left the London School of Economics for the University of Chicago, where he became a professor in the Committee on Social Thought. Near fine in the rare dust jacket with some wear to the spine and extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A nice association.
Price: $6,800.00 Item Number: 4495
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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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“THE EXPLANATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS WHICH MATHEMATICS ACCEPTS AS INDEFINABLE”: Rare First Edition of Bertrand Russell's The Principles of Mathematics
RUSSELL, Bertrand.
The Principles of Mathematics.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1903.
First edition of this foundational work of mathematics, the first in English on the subject. Octavo, original blue cloth, titles to the spine in gilt. In near fine condition, with light rubbing. From the library of philosopher and historian of mathematics Dietrich Mahnke dated June 1939 on front pastedown, noting that the marginalia are those of the previous owner, Professor Friedrich Kunke. Rare and desirable with noted provenance.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 36082
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"What worries you, masters you": The Works of John Locke; Finely Bound
LOCKE, John.
The Works of John Locke [Including: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, Some Considerations of the Consequences of Lowering the Interest, and Raising the Value of Money, An Essay for the Amendment of the Silver Coin, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, Etc.]
London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1801.
Finely bound edition of the collected works of John Locke, “the most worthy… of the indisputably great philosophers.” Octavo, nine volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles to the spine, morocco spine labels, raised bands. Frontispiece of John Locke and fold-out table. In very good condition. Rare and desirable in contemporary calf.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 117649
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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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First Edition of The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism; Inscribed by Daniel Bell to Harvard Colleague George Homans
BELL, Daniel.
The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism.
New York: Basic Books, Inc. Publishers, 1976.
First edition of the author’s magnum opus. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Daniel Bell on the front free endpaper a month before publication, “For George and Nancy Homans with affectionate regards, Dan Bell Dec. 18, 1975.” The recipient, George Homans was a sociologist, founder of behavioral sociology and a colleague of Bell’s at Harvard University. He is known for his research in social behavior and his works including The Human Group, Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms, his Exchange Theory and the many different propositions he enforced to better explain social behavior. A few pencil notes in the text by Homans, fine in a near fine dust jacket. An excellent association, linking these two intellectual giants.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 16092
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Karl Popper's Conjectures and refutations; Inscribed by Him to Lionel Robbins
POPPER, Karl.
Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge.
London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1965.
Second edition of this major work by Popper. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Lionel, the most generously appreciative of readers from Karl June 1965.” The recipient Lionel Robbins was a prominent member of the economics department at the London School of Economics and a close friend and colleague of Popper. The pair were colleagues for over twenty years, with Popper first taking up a Readership at the LSE in 1945 before being appointed Professor of Logic and Scientific Method in 1949. Their relationship was principally professional, forming a strong inter-departmental alliance, fortified by their mutual friendship with Friedrich von Hayek. In a letter to Hayek on 20th October 1964, Popper wrote: “… I should also mention that, through your closeness to Lionel Robbins, I got to know him; and he is now my stand-by in the School, outside my department. He has been very good to me, and has helped me immensely, in many difficult situations at the school” (Shearmur & Turner, pp. 249). They also had significant intellectual intersections, with Robbins playing a role in the development of two of Popper’s most important works, The Open Society and The Poverty of Historicism. For Popper, Robbins was “the uncrowned king of the LSE” (quoted in Dahrendorf, p. 422): “I loved and admired him, most of all for his moral and personal qualities – and as a teacher” (Howson, 7). Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional association.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 100965
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First Edition of Robert K. Merton's Social Theory and Social Structure; Warmly Inscribed by Him
MERTON, Robert K.
Social Theory and Social Structure.
Glencoe, IL: The Free Press, 1949.
First edition of this landmark work in sociology. Octavo, original blue cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Fred, your friend for quite some time. Bob.” Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with some chips and wear. Rare signed and inscribed.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 19087
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The Political Works of Harold Joseph Laski; Uniformly Bound by Bayntun Riviere
LASKI, Harold Joseph.
The Political Works of Harold Joseph Laski.
London, New York, New Haven: GeorAllen & Unwin Ltd.; Harper & Brothers; Yale University Press , 1919-1941.
Finely bound collection of the political works of English political theorist and economist Harold Laski. Octavos, 22 volumes, uniformly bound by Bayntun Riviere Bindery in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Titles include Laski’s well-known An Introduction to Politics, The State in Theory and Practice, The American Democracy, The Dangers of Obedience & Other Essays, and Studies in Law and Politics. In fine condition.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 90438
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"Face an audience as frequently as you can and you will soon stop shying": First edition of Dale Carnegie's First Book: The Art of Public Speaking;
CARNEGEY (CARNEGIE), Dale and J. Berg Esenwein.
The Art of Public Speaking: An Inspirational Working Handbook of Instruction For All Who Would Become Efficient Public Speakers.
Springfield: Home Correspondence School, 1915.
First edition of Carnegie’s pioneering work which would become the predecessor to countless self-improvement books. Octavo, original cloth, top edge gilt. Co-author Dale Carnegy would later change the spelling of his surname to Carnegie to associate himself in the eyes of the public with American business tycoon Andrew Carnegie, to whom he was not related. In near fine condition Rare and desirable.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 95246
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First Edition of the Author’s Prophetic Book The Coming of Post Industrial Society; Inscribed by Daniel Bell in the year of Publication TO IRVING KRISTOL AND GERTRUDE HIMMELFARB
BELL, Daniel.
The Coming of Post-Industrial Society: A Venture in Social Forecasting.
New York: Basic Books, 1973.
First edition of this insightful work which speaks about the coming of the service economy and the importance of knowledge for creating stratification in the new society. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Irving and Bea- with affection, as always, Dan May 30, 1973.” The recipients were Irving Kristol and his wife Gertrude Himmelfarb, who were close friends of Bell’s. Kristol was a journalist who was dubbed the “godfather of neoconservatism.” Historian Gertrude Himmelfarb, also known as Bea Kristol, was an American historian who was a leader of conservative interpretations of history and historiography. Bell and Kristol were close friends, who jointly founded The Public Interest in 1965. It was a leading neoconservative journal on political economy and culture, aimed at a readership of journalists, scholars and policy makers. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jacqueline Schuman.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 118638