Philosophy

Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.

Ethiopia C. 18th Century.

Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Duodecimo, bound with twine between two wood blocks carved with ornate patterns and hand-painted miniatures to the verso of each board with depictions of the Crucifixion of Jesus and the Arrest of Jesus, parchment manuscript in black and red ink. The book measures 4.25 inches in height by inchesContinue reading "Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible."

Marshman, Joshua [Confucius]

The Works of Confucius; Containing the Original Text, With a Translation. [The Analects of Confucius].

Serampore : Printed at the Mission Press, 1809.

First English translation of the Analects of Confucius printed at Serampore, the first major center of English printing in Chinese. Quarto, Vol. I [all published], bound in modern half calf, gilt-lettered morocco spine label, gilt stamping to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, half-title, 4pp. errata, Chinese and English text, without theContinue reading "The Works of Confucius; Containing the Original Text, With a Translation. [The Analects of Confucius]."

Greene, Robert

The 33 Strategies of War.

New York : Penguin Books, 2007.

Later printing of this classic work. Octavo, original wrappers. Boldly signed by Robert Greene on the front free endpaper. In fine condition.

Frankl, Viktor E

The Doctor and the Soul: An Introduction to Logotherapy.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1955.

First edition of Frankl’s classic work which explores topics on the meaning of life in general as well as the meaning of specific areas of one’s life, such as work and personal relationships. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Viktor Frankl on the title page. near fine in a good dust jacket. Typography, binding andContinue reading "The Doctor and the Soul: An Introduction to Logotherapy."

Kama Sutra.

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Illustrated Sanskrit manuscript of the definitive ancient Indian Hindu guide to the philosophy of love and desire. Late 19th century or earlier, bound accordion style. Twenty-three leaves, Sanskrit text in black ink with 15 original full-color erotic paintings with elaborate gilt decoration. In very good condition. Each leaf measures 5.25 inches by 3.25 inches. RareContinue reading "Kama Sutra."

Greene, Robert

The 33 Strategies of War.

New York : Viking, 2006.

First edition of this brilliant distillation of the strategies of war—and the subtle social game of everyday life—by the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Laws of Human Nature. T Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Robert Greene on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Greene, Robert

The Art of Seduction.

New York : Penguin Books/ A Joost Elfers Book, 2001.

Later printing of this modern classic. Octavo, original wrappers. Boldly signed by Robert Greene on the half-title page. In fine condition.

Walton, Izaak and Charles Cotton

The Complete Angler: Or, Contemplative Man’s Recreation, being a Discourse on Rivers, Fish-ponds, Fish, and Fishing.

London : Henry Washbourne, 1842.

The Washbourne edition of this classic of English literature, being a reprint of the 5th Major edition and including a facsimile reproduction of title page of the first edition of 1653. Octavo, bound in full contemporary mottled tree calf by Henry Sotheran with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartmentsContinue reading "The Complete Angler: Or, Contemplative Man’s Recreation, being a Discourse on Rivers, Fish-ponds, Fish, and Fishing."

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.

Coase, Ronald H

The Nature of the Firm: Influence.

Yale University : Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, 1988.

Print of Coase’s classic paper. Octavo, original wrappers. Boldly signed by the Nobel Prize-winning economist Coase on the title page. In fine condition.

Greene, Robert

The 48 Laws of Power.

New York : Penguin Books, 2023.

Special edition of the New York Times bestselling classic which has sold millions of copies worldwide. Octavo, original full vegan leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel, gilded edges with a lenticular illustration of Robert Greene and Machiavelli, patterned endpapers. Boldly signed by Robert Greene on the half-title page. In fineContinue reading "The 48 Laws of Power."

Locke, John

An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding: In Four Books.

London : Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, at the Black-Swan in Pater-Noster Row, and Samuel Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal-Exchange, 1700.

Rare fourth edition of this fundamental work in the history of Western thought, the first to name Locke as the author and include the frontispiece portrait of him. Folio, bound in in full speckled calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins, engraved frontispiece portraitContinue reading "An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding: In Four Books."

Drucker, Peter F

The Effective Executive.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of Drucker’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on his letterhead notecard, “I never quote with best wishes Peter F. Drucker.” With the original letter addressed in Drucker’s hand. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery.

Keen, Sam

Fire in the Belly: On Being a Man.

New York : Bantam Books, 1991.

First edition of this seminal work that challenges traditional conceptions of masculinity. Octavo, original half-cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Stephanie Berger Keep the fire in the heartheartheartheart Sam Keen.” Very good in a good dust jacket. Bumping and rubbing to the dust jacket with a few small closedContinue reading "Fire in the Belly: On Being a Man."

Breyer, Stephen

The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2015.

First edition of this work by the Supreme Court justice. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Stephen Best Stephen Breyer” and additionally signed three times by legendary designer Chip Kidd, on the front panel, on the title page and on the rear dust jacket flap. FineContinue reading "The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities."

Kripke, Saul A

The Journal of Symbolic Logic: Distinguished Constituents; Semantical Analysis of Modal Logic; and The Problem of Entailment.

Princeton, New Jersey : Association for Symbolic Logic, Inc, December 1959.

First edition, first issue of the December 1959 issue of The Journal of Symbolic Logic. Octavo, original wrappers as issued, Volume 24 Number 4. Signed by Saul Kripke on page 323 next to the title of his abstract paper, “Distinguished Constituents.” This issue includes three important abstracts of Kripke papers received by the Journal inContinue reading "The Journal of Symbolic Logic: Distinguished Constituents; Semantical Analysis of Modal Logic; and The Problem of Entailment."

Chinese Medicine and Physiognomy Manual Collection.

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Rare collection of nine Chinese woodblock physiognomy manuals, wonderfully illustrated with xiangfatu representing the principles and practices of Chinese physiognomy. Octavo, nine volumes bound in illustrated wrappers, illustrated with numerous physiognomic charts and diagrams. In  very good condition.

Locke, John

Two Treatises of Government: In the former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown. The latter is an Essay Concerning The True Original Extent, and End of Civil-Government.

London : Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black-Swan in Pater-noster Row, 1694.

Rare second edition of Locke’s famed treatises on government. Duodecimo, elaborately bound in full contemporary calf with ruling and tooling stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, all edges speckled. In good condition with rubbing, losses to the corners, and the spine rebacked. Lacking pages 337-352, which are supplied in facsimile and looselyContinue reading "Two Treatises of Government: In the former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown. The latter is an Essay Concerning The True Original Extent, and End of Civil-Government."

Kripke, Saul

Naming and Necessity.

Cambridge : Harvard University Press, 1980.

First edition of this work widely considered one of the most important philosophical works of the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the title page, “Best wishes Saul Kripke.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.

Rawls, John

Political Liberalism.

New York : Columbia University Press, 1993.

First edition of this work which continues and revises the idea of justice as fairness as presented in A Theory of Justice. Octavo, original boards. Signed by John Rawls on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carin Goldberg. Rare and desirable signed.

Sun Tzu. Translated by Lionel Giles

Sun Tzu on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World, Translated from the Chinese with Introduction and Critical Notes.

London : Luzac & Co, 1910.

First complete English translation of arguably the best twentieth-century translation of Sun Tzu’s seminal work on military strategy, preceded only by the first translation into French of 1772 by French Jesuit Jean Joseph Marie Amiot, and partial translation into English by British officer Everard Ferguson Calthrop of 1905. Royal octavo, original printed yellow wrappers boundContinue reading "Sun Tzu on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World, Translated from the Chinese with Introduction and Critical Notes."

[His Holiness The Dalai Lama] Stril-Rever, Sofia and translated by Charlotte Mandell

The Dalai Lama: My Spiritual Autobiography, Personal Reflections, Teachings and Talks.

New York : Rider, 2010.

First edition, early printing of this reflective work that offers an intimate look into the life, teachings, and philosophy of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Octavo, original boards. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Russell, Bertrand

Philosophy.

W.W. Norton & Company : London, 1927.

First edition of this classic work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Bertrand Russell on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine third printing dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed.

Chomsky, Noam

Problems of Knowledge and Freedom: The Russell Lectures.

New York : Pantheon Books, 1971.

First edition of Chomsky’s Russell lectures in honor of Bertrand Russell. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For John Best wishes Noam Chomsky.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Janet Halverson. Uncommon signed.