Habermas, Jurgen

The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society.

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, 1989.

First edition in English of this analysis of the historical rise and decline of a space for critical, rational debate between citizens and the state. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Boldly signed by Jürgen Habermas on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Translated by Thomas Burger with the assistance of Frederick Lawrence.

Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.

Ethiopia C. 18th Century.

Rare Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Octodecimo, bound with twine between two wood blocks, parchment manuscript in black and red ink. The book measures 4 inches in height by inches 6 in width. Annotations in pen to the front and rear end leaves.

Smith, Adam

Essays on Philosophical Subjects… To Which Is Prefixed, an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author by Dugald Stewart.

London : Printed for T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, 1795.

First edition of this important collection of Smith’s essays, featuring the important first publication of his History of Astronomy. Quarto, bound in quarter calf with gilt titles to the spine. One of 1,000 copies. Containing the first publication in book form of Dugald Stewart’s Account of the Life and Writings of Adam Smith, which hadContinue reading "Essays on Philosophical Subjects… To Which Is Prefixed, an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author by Dugald Stewart."

Saint Augustine

Of the Citie of God: With the Learned Comments of Jo. Lod. Vives.

London : George Eld, 1610.

First edition in English of Augustine’s monumental work. Translated by John Healey. Folio, bound in full contemporary English panelled calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, central ornament tooled in gold to the front and rear panels, rebacked. Decorative woodcut head-pieces and decorative and woodcut initials, including three twelve-lineContinue reading "Of the Citie of God: With the Learned Comments of Jo. Lod. Vives."

Franklin, Benjamin

The Way to Wealth or Poor Richard Improved.

Paris : Printed for Ant. Aug. Renouard, 1795.

The rare Renouard‘s bi-lingual edition of Franklin’s popular aphorisms, first published as the preface to the Poor Richard‘s Almanac. “The prettiest edition yet printed” (Ford, Franklin 135). Sabin 25596. 12mo, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine, gilt turn-ins, engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin by A. Tardieu after Duplessis. This elegant ParisianContinue reading "The Way to Wealth or Poor Richard Improved."

Plato [Socrates]

Plato and Socrates.

London : Arthur L. Humphreys, 1907.

Finely bound edition of this collection of Plato’s Socratic dialogues, including “Euthyphro,” “Apology,” “Crito,” and “Phaedo”. Octavo, bound in half morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt. In near fine condition.

Wells, H.G

The New Machiavelli.

London : The Bodley Head, 1911.

First edition of Wells’ ambitious political novel tracing the rise and downfall of an idealistic reformer whose personal passions and public ambitions collide in Edwardian England. Octavo, original publisher’s red cloth. From the collection of British science fiction author Christopher Priest. Priest’s most famous works include The Inverted World (1974), the interconnected “Dream Archipelago” series,Continue reading "The New Machiavelli."

Aeschylus; E.D.A Morshead [Translator]

The Suppliant Maidens, The Persians, The Seven Against Thebes, and The Prometheus Bound of Aeschylus.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1921.

First edition, early printing of the Golden Treasury Series of four ancient Greek tragedies by Aeschylus. Duodecimo, original publisher’s blue cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel, tissue-guarded frontispiece. In very good condition. Translated into English verse by E.D.A Morshead. Ownership signature to the front free endpaper.

Sharma, Robin

The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.

Toronto : Harper Collins Publishers, 2019.

First paperback edition of this enchanting self-help story. Octavo, original wrappers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Drew Sonja – Thank you for your brilliance! And sharing it w/ the world Sincerely Robin.” In fine condition. Cover art by Alexander Row.

Frigyes, Karinthy

Minden Másképpen Van (Ötvenkét Vasárnap). [Everything is Different (Fifty-Two Sundays)].

Budapest : Athenaeum, 1929.

Rare first edition of this collection of stories in the original Hungarian which introduced the sociological phenomena of “six degrees of separation.” Octavo, original wrappers with titles in red and black. In very good condition. Exceptionally rare in the original wrappers.

Wells, H.G

What Are We To Do With Our Lives?

London : Watts & Co., 1935.

The Thinker’s Library edition of this blueprint for a unified, scientifically planned world state. Duodecimo, original publisher’s cloth with titles stamped in black. From the collection of British science fiction author Christopher Priest with his ownership signature to the front free endpaper and the previous ownership crossed out. Priest’s most famous works include The InvertedContinue reading "What Are We To Do With Our Lives?"

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

London : Printed for Awnsham Churchill, 1690.

Exceptionally rare first edition published at the end of 1689 in an edition of likely only 1,000 copies (with quire Q in second, of two, settings. Octavo, bound in full calf, morocco spine label, gilt tooling to the spine, blind stamped to the front and rear panels. Title-page within double rule. In very good condition.Continue reading "Two Treatises of Government: In the Former, The False Principles, and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, And His Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown"

Locke, John

A Second Letter Concerning Toleration.

London : Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary Lane, 1690.

First edition of John Locke’s landmark second Letter of Toleration, a profound influence on Jefferson, Madison and the architecture of the American Constitution on freedom of religion. Octavo, bound in three quarter calf with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers. In very good condition, paper repair to lower corner D1, faint early ink ownershipContinue reading "A Second Letter Concerning Toleration."

Rand, Ayn

The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution.

New York : New American Library, 1971.

First edition, a paperback original of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original wrappers. Boldly signed by Ayn Rand beneath her name. In near fine condition. First editions are rare signed.

Wells, H.G

The Undying Fire: A Contemporary Novel.

London : Cassell and Company, Ltd, 1919.

First British edition of Wells’ philosophical reimagining of the Book of Job set against the moral and scientific crises of the modern world. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth. In very good condition, signature to the front free endpaper.

Wells, H.G

The New Machiavelli and The Food of the Gods.

London : Odhams Press Limited, 1911.

Odhams Press Limited edition of Wells’ semi-autobiographical political novel exploring the tensions between personal desire and public responsibility in early twentieth-century England. Octavo, original publisher’s red cloth. From the collection of British science fiction author Christopher Priest. Priest’s most famous works include The Inverted World (1974), the interconnected “Dream Archipelago” series, and The Prestige (1995),Continue reading "The New Machiavelli and The Food of the Gods."

Ellis, Havelock

Studies in the Psychology of Sex.

Philadelphia : F.A. Davis Company, 1905-1910.

Finely bound set of Havelock Ellis’ landmark work Studies in the Psychology of Sex. Octavo, 6 volumes. Bound in three quarters levant morocco by Stikeman and Company, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt topstain, marbled endpapers. In fine condition. An exceptional set.

Aristotle; Translated by William Ellis

A Treatise on Government. Translated From The Greek of Aristotle.

London : T. Payne, 1776.

First edition in English of this important work on government by Aristotle. Quarto, bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, full, morocco spine label, raised bands. In very good condition. Translated by William Ellis. An exceptional example of this cornerstone work.

Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de

Wind, Sand and Stars.

New York : Reynal and Hitchcock, 1939.

First British edition of Saint-Exupery’s philosophical memoir of flight. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Decorations in color by John O’Hara Cosgrave, II. Translated from the French by Lewis Galantière. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket which has been laminated. Uncommon in the original dust jacket. 

Maugham, W. Somerset

A Writer’s Notebook.

New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1949.

Signed limited edition of Maugham’s semi-autobiographical confessional. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, top edge gilt, frontispiece. One of 1,000 numbered copies, this is number 964. Boldly signed by W. Somerset Maugham on the limitations page. In fine condition, bookplate to the rear pastedown of Craig V. Showalter. HousedContinue reading "A Writer’s Notebook."

Saint-Exupery, Antoine de

Wind, Sand and Stars.

New York : Reynal and Hitchcock, 1939.

First edition of Saint-Exupery’s philosophical memoir of flight. Octavo, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers. Decorations in color by John O’Hara Cosgrave II. Translated from the French by Lewis Galantiere. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Uncommon in the original dust jacket. 

Homer; Translated by Alexander Pope

The Iliad of Homer [and] The Odyssey of Homer.

London : Printed by W. Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott between the Temple-Gates, 1715-1726.

First editions of Alexander Pope’s monumental illustrated translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the deluxe subscribers’ quarto issue on thick paper, esteemed by Samuel Johnson as “certainly the noblest version of poetry which the world has ever seen.” Quarto, eleven volumes, uniformly bound in full contemporary speckled calf with gilt tooling to the spine inContinue reading "The Iliad of Homer [and] The Odyssey of Homer."

Roosevelt, Eleanor

You Learn By Living.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1960.

First edition of Eleanor Roosevelt’s classic work on how to discover life’s lessons. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Eleanor Roosevelt in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “To Bob Robinson with good wishes Eleanor Roosevelt 1960.” Fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Dr. DavidContinue reading "You Learn By Living."

Hayek, Friedrich August von [F.A.]

The Constitution of Liberty.

London : Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1960.

First edition of Hayek’s classic statement on the ideals of freedom and liberty. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by F.A. Hayek on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by the Harcourt Bindery. Rare and desirable signed.