Philosophy

Hill, Napoleon

Think and Grow Rich.

Cleveland : The Ralston Society, 1937.

Rare first edition of this classic bestseller, which has sold over 100 million copies. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket, ownership name to the front free endpaper. Rare in the original dust jacket.

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 tableContinue reading "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."

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,Continue reading "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects."

Fuller, R. Buckminster. In collaboration with E. J. Applewhite

Synergetics 2: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking.

New York : Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1979.

First edition of the second volume in Fuller’s landmark work, Synergetics. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with diagrams. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To: Jim Chaturckthy, On the occasion of our meeting at Oakland University which gave me the opportunity to make a drawing for your daughter Jennifer whoContinue reading "Synergetics 2: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking."

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.

Tolstoy, Leo

The Christian Teaching.

New York : Frederick A. Stokes, 1898.

First American edition of Tolstoy’s work the history and influence of Christianity, inspired by his own spiritual awakening. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt. Translated by Vladimir Tchertkoff. In very good condition. Ownership inscription.

Tolstoy, Leo

The Christian Teaching.

London : Horace Marshall & Son, 1898.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s work the history and influence of Christianity, inspired by his own spiritual awakening. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Translated by Vladimir Tchertkoff. In very good condition. Ownership inscription.

von Clausewitz, Carl Philipp Gottfried

Vom Kriege. Hinterlassenes Werk. [On War].

Berlin : Ferdinand Dümmler, 1832-34.

Scarce first edition of arguably the most important treatise on political-military analysis and strategy ever written. Octavo, three volumes bound in contemporary half cloth over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities.

Parfit, Derek

Reasons and Persons.

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1984.

First edition of one of the most important philosophical texts of the second half the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “To Tony, with love from Derek 7 May ’84.” The recipient, Tony Honoré was a close friend of Parfit’sContinue reading "Reasons and Persons."

Smiles, Samuel

Self-Help. With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance.

London : John Murray, 1908.

Finely bound example of Smith’s best-selling work on the self-improvement; an embodiment of the ideologies of mid-Victorian liberalism. Octavo, bound in full contemporary tree calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Self-Help. With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance."

Deming, W. Edwards

Out of the Crisis.

Cambridge : The MIT Press, 1986.

Early printing of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Greetings to Mr. Carl Wouden W. Edwards Deming 7 February 1992.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection.

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Rare collection of illuminated paintings depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Quarto, bound in full calf with gilt tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels with fleuron cornerpieces surrounding a gilt-bordered morocco onlay displaying a coat of arms, patterned endpapers, twelve vellum leaves. The illuminated paintings include: theContinue reading "Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection."

Kuhn, Thomas S

The Copernican Revolution. Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought.

Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, 1957.

First edition of Kuhn’s classic treatise. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket, which is in very good condition. Foreword by James Bryant Conant.

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.Continue reading "The Florentine History in VIII. Books. Now Exactly Translated from the Italian."

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 & HargreavesContinue reading "The Moral and Political Works."

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, 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. Uncommon signed and inscribed.

a Kempis, Thomas

The Imitation of Christ.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1908.

Finely bound example of a Kempis’ classic work. Octavo, bound in morocco by Bayntun, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt doublures, illustrated including color plates by Flint. Translated from the Latin by Richard Wbytford and then re-edited into modern English by Wilfrid Raynal. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Riesman, David with Reuel Denney and Nathan Glazer

The Lonely Crowd: A Study of the Changing American Character.

New Haven : Yale University Press, 1950.

First edition of this landmark work. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition.

Durant, Will

The Mansions of Philosophy: A Survey of Human Life and Destiny.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1929.

First edition of Durant’s “attempt at a consistent philosophy of life.” Octavo, original cloth. Signed and dated by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Stanley Bauman Sincerely Will Durant Buffalo Aug. 19, 1935.” In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed.

Anderson, Erica; Eugene Exman. [Albert Schweitzer]

Le Monde D’Albert Schweitzer.

Paris : A. Michel, 1955.

First edition of this work on the Nobel laureate. Quarto, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Schweitzer on the front free endpaper, “To Mr. Jean Marie Dubernard upon leaving Lambaréné with my good thoughts, Albert Schweitzer Lambaréné, 18 March 1957.” Photographs by Erica Anderson. Text by Eugene Exman. Preface by Daniel Halevy. In near fineContinue reading "Le Monde D’Albert Schweitzer."

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,Continue reading "The Coming of Post-Industrial Society: A Venture in Social Forecasting."

Bell, Daniel [Irving Kristol]

The End of Ideology: On the Exhaustion of Political Ideas In the Fifties.

Glencoe, Ill : The Free Press, 1960.

First edition of this landmark in American social thought. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “For Irving and Bea- Butforis – prim, prima with affection Dan – 2/12/60.” The recipients were Irving Kristol and his wife Gertrude Himmelfarb, who were closeContinue reading "The End of Ideology: On the Exhaustion of Political Ideas In the Fifties."

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.

Masters, William H. and Virginia E. Johnson

Human Sexual Inadequacy.

Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1970.

First edition, early printing of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by both Masters and Johnson on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Richard Emery based on a design by George Price. We have never encountered another signed example.