Philosophy

Ketchum, Richard M. [Barbara Bray]

Second Cutting: Letters From The Country.

New York : The Viking Press, 1981.

First edition of this reflective portrait of New England rural life. Octavo, original half-cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author and his wife on the half-title page, “For Ruth – with warm wishes for a happy Christmas with lots of love from Barbara and Dick Ketchum Dec. 25, 2007.” Fine in a very good dustContinue reading "Second Cutting: Letters From The Country."

Ovid [Sandys, George]

Ovid’s Metamorphosis Englished, Mythologized, And Represented in Figures. An Essay to the Translation of Virgil’s Aeneis.

London : Printed by J. L. for Andrew Hebb, 1640.

Fourth edition of George Sandys’ revered English translation of Ovid’s Metamorphosis. Folio, contemporary paneled boards, rebacked, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, illustrated with two copies of the engraved portrait of Ovid (one opposite engraved title, the other opposite the Life), engraved title page, and 15 full-page plates (one at the beginning of each book ofContinue reading "Ovid’s Metamorphosis Englished, Mythologized, And Represented in Figures. An Essay to the Translation of Virgil’s Aeneis."

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, 1694.

Rare second edition of this fundamental work in the history of Western thought, the first to name Locke as the author and to include the frontispiece portrait of him. Folio, bound full paneled calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborated diced stamping to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, engraved frontispiece portraitContinue reading "An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding: In Four Books."

Freud, Sigmund

The Interpretation of Dreams.

New York : The Basic Books, 1955.

First edition of this translation English of this cornerstone of psychoanalysis. Octavo, original cloth. Translation by James Strachey. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with some chips. Rare in the original jacket.

Biblia Cum Concordantiis Veteris et Novi Testamenti. [The Bible with Concordances of the Old and New Testaments]. [Jerome’s Latin Vulgate].

[Lugundi] : [Jacobum Mareschal], 1527.

Rare 16th century printed seminary copy of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate. Folio, bound in full elaborately blind-stamped vellum with remains of iron clasps, all edges red, finely printed in gothic letter, title printed in red and black within woodcut borders, numerous woodcuts and woodcut initials, title and a few woodcuts hand-colored. With a Seminary library catalogContinue reading "Biblia Cum Concordantiis Veteris et Novi Testamenti. [The Bible with Concordances of the Old and New Testaments]. [Jerome’s Latin Vulgate]."

Wollstonecraft, Mary

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects.

London : Printed For J. Johnson, 1792.

First edition of this landmark work—among the earliest and most influential feminist manifestos—presenting a groundbreaking critique of the social and educational structures that enforced women’s subordination. Octavo, original boards, sympathetically rebacked, printed spine label. [Windle A5a; PMM 242; Goldsmiths’ 15367]. In very good condition with scattered toning. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Exceptionally rareContinue reading "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects."

Crowley, Aleister

The Works of Aleister Crowley.

Foyers : Society For The Propagation of Religious Truth, 1905-1907.

First collected edition, “Essay Competition” issue of the collected writings of the noted occult writer. Octavo, three volumes bound into one as issued in the original publisher’s limp linen with gilt titles to the front panel, top edge gilt with others untrimmed. Boldly signed by the author on the second free endpaper, “With Mr. AleisterContinue reading "The Works of Aleister Crowley."

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.