HISTORY 64 “The Earliest Statement Of The Original Contract As The Basis of Government” “Produced A Fermentation Of English Thought Unsurpassed Until The Advent Of Darwinism” (PMM) 82HOBBES, Thomas. The Moral and Political Works of Thomas Hobbes. London, Printed in the Year 1750. Folio, contemporary full brown calf gilt rebacked with original spine laid down. $9200 First collected edition of “the most original political philosopher of his time” (PMM), featuring such seminal writings as Leviathan, De Corpore, Human Nature, Behemoth and others, with engraved frontispiece portrait and re-engraved Leviathan title page, in contemporary calf binding. The Works of Thomas Hobbes spans “one of the most momentous periods of English history, and he was one of its most conspicuous figure,” celebrated for writings such as Human Nature (1650) well before he “embarked on his greatest work Leviathan (1651)” (PMM 138). It was there that Hobbes “produced a fermentation in English [which] remains a model of vigorous exposition, unsurpassed in the language” (Pforzheimer 491). To many Hobbes remains “the most original political philosopher of his time” (PMM 138). Preceded only by a partial collection printed in Amsterdam in 1668. With engraved full-page portrait of Hobbes, re-engraved Leviathan frontispiece dated 1651. Text about fine, contemporary calf with expert restoration. 83HOOKER, Richard. Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie. London, 1611. Small folio, contemporary full limp vellum, custom clamshell box. $5500 Second collected edition of Richard Hooker’s significant theological and philosophical articulation of the concept of law, eventually an important influence on the United States Constitution. “This is the earliest statement of the original contract as the basis of government… Hooker’s theory formed the basis of Locke’s Treatise of Civil Government and can thus be considered the first statement of the principles behind the Constitution of England” (PMM 104). “Madison and the other framers made frequent reference to Calvin, Richard Hooker and the New England divines in their political writings, and were vitally aware of the long history of compacts in America. Through them, the principles of covenants and compacts became a part of the Federal Constitution” (Lutz & Warren, Covenanted People, 64). Individual sections were first published beginning in 1593. Occasional penciled marginalia. Expert paper repairs to upper corner of title page, and first two leaves of text; paper repair to last text leaf, not affecting letterpress. Mild toning to text, rear inner hinge starting but holding strong. Expert restoration and light soiling to contemporary vellum. Very good.
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