Philosophy

Dillard, Annie

Pilgrim At Tinker Creek.

New York : Harper's Magazine Press, 1974.

First edition, early printing of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original brown cloth, pictorial endpapers. Boldly signed by Annie Dillard on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Sheila Berger. Line drawing by Annie Dillard.

Vincent Peale, Norman

The Power of Positive Thinking.

New York : Foundation For Christian Living, 1956.

Early printing of Norman Vincent Peale’s enduring classic. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Dr. Richard Shaw who with his great skill demonstrated the ideas in the book- Norman Vincent Peale 10/6/89.” In near fine condition.

Covey, Stephen R

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1989.

Early printing of this best-selling work, which has went on to sell more than 25 million copies. Octavo, bound in full leather. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Dec. 2002 For Lori Smith Let’s Climb to the Summit! Love + Appreciation Stephen R. Covey. In fine condition.

Aristotle

Politiques, or Discourses of Government.

London : Adam Islip, 1598.

Rare first edition in English of one of the world’s most important and influential political texts, “the most valuable work on that branch of philosophy that has descended to us from antiquity.” Small folio, bound in full leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels. In near fine condition, bookplate, smallContinue reading "Politiques, or Discourses of Government."

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.

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 fineContinue reading "The Road to Serfdom."

Yogananda, Paramhansa

Autobiography of a Yogi.

New York : The Philosophical Library, 1946.

First edition of one of the most important spiritual books of the twentieth century, Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Preface by Walter Evans-Wentz. Uncommon in the original dust jacket.

Schiller, Friedrich

The Works of Friedrich Schiller.

Boston : Francis A. Niccolls, c.1900.

Finely bound example of the Connoisseur edition of the works of Schiller, number 34 of only 150 sets printed. Octavo, 10 volumes, bound in full red morocco, ornate gilt tooling to the spine, with pastedowns of red leather borders and central green morocco panel, with floral decorations at the corners and a central gilt sprigContinue reading "The Works of Friedrich Schiller."

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. OwnershipContinue reading "An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals."

Machiavelli, Niccolò

Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince].

Palermo : Apresso gli heredi d'Antoniello degli Antonielli, 1584 [London: John Wolfe].

Rare 16th century printing of John Wolfe’s famed fictitious Italian editions of Machiavelli’s fundamental works of political history and philosophy. Octavo, elaborately bound in full crushed morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and central motifs to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince]."

Wecker, Johannes Jacob

Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art & Nature, Being The Summe and Substance of Naturall Philosophy, Methodically Digested. First designed by John Wecker Dr in Physick, and now much Augmented and Inlarged by Dr. R. Read. A like work never before in the English tongue.

1660 : Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St. Pauls Church-yard, London.

First edition in English of Reade’s 17th century adaptation of Johann Jacob Wecker’s De secreti libri xvii [Book of Secrets] of 1582. Folio, bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine, woodcut printer’s device to the title, woodcut head and tailpieces and initials, numerous woodcut diagramsContinue reading "Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art & Nature, Being The Summe and Substance of Naturall Philosophy, Methodically Digested. First designed by John Wecker Dr in Physick, and now much Augmented and Inlarged by Dr. R. Read. A like work never before in the English tongue."

Einstein, Albert; Hermann Struck

Albert Einstein Signed Etching.

1923.

Lithograph portrait of “the father of modern physics”, Albert Einstein by well-known artist Hermann Struck. Signed by Einstein, “Albert Einstein 1923” and Struck, “Herman Struck 138/150”. In fine condition. Matted and framed, the entire piece measures 19.75 inches by 15.5 inches. An exceptional piece.

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."

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.

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."

Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection.

.

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.

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."