"THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IS NONE OTHER THAN THE PROGRESS OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF FREEDOM": 1857 FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH OF HEGEL'S PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY

HEGEL, G.W.F. Lectures on the Philosophy of History. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1857. Small octavo, contemporary three-quarter tan calf rebacked in the 20th century, raised bands, red and black morocco spine labels, retaining contemporary marbled boards and endpapers. Housed in a custom cloth slipcase. $5500.

First edition in English of Hegel’s important and influential lectures on history and humanity’s intellectual evolution, translated by John Sibree.

"In his Lectures on the Philosophy of History [a text primarily based on lectures delivered in Berlin in the winter of 1830-31], Hegel argued that the history of man in the concrete was as much a progression as the history of his thought. This he deduced from the thesis that mind is of its very nature free. Thus, each historical epoch, according to Hegel, embodied some aspect of or stage in the development of man's free mind, and it would be absurd for an individual to go counter to his time except insofar as he was preparing the way for future epochs" (Edwards III:436). Hegel's lectures were first published in 1837. Bound with three leaves of publisher's advertisements at rear. Owner annotations to rear flyleaf.

Text generally clean, inner hinges and text block expertly repaired. A very good copy.