"VIRTUE IS NOT MERELY A STATE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE RIGHT PRINCIPLE, BUT ONE THAT IMPLIES THE RIGHT PRINCIPLE; AND THE RIGHT PRINCIPLE IN MORAL CONDUCT IS PRUDENCE"

(ARISTOTLE). Aristotle. London: Arthur L. Humphreys, 1902. Two volumes. Quarto, contemporary three-quarter green morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, top edge gilt, uncut. $1750.

Handsomely printed edition of Aristotle's Ethics, beautifully bound by Hatchards in three-quarter morocco gilt.

"Aristotle's treatise on politics is the most valuable work on that branch of philosophy that has descended to us from antiquity… It was the earliest effort of antiquity to establish a system of political philosophy" (Allibone, 672). The publisher, Arthur L. Humphreys, was a bookseller who also published books on an occasional basis between the 1890s and the 1930s. He was also one of the proprietors of Hatchards; most of his books were published from Hatchards' address at 187 Piccadilly, London. This work (alternately titled The Ethics of Aristotle) was revised from a translation by D.P. Chase published at Oxford in 1847. Bookplates.

Scattered foxing mainly to preliminaries and edges of text block, light soiling to front board of Volume II. A beautifully bound copy in near-fine condition.