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."

Frankl, Viktor E

From Death-Camp To Existentialism [Man’s Search For Meaning].

Boston : Beacon Press, 1959.

First edition in English of Frankl’s classic work, which was later titled Man’s Search For Meaning in 1962. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Viktor Frankl on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Translated by Ilse Lasch. Preface by Gordon Allport. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. SignedContinue reading "From Death-Camp To Existentialism [Man’s Search For Meaning]."

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]."

Tolstoy, Leo

Patriotism and Christianity.

London : Walter Scott, Ltd., 1896.

First English edition of Tolstoy’s important work on non-resistance. Octavo, original cloth. With a note to English readers by John C. Kenworthy. Scarce.

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.

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.

.

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."