“A FORMATIVE INFLUENCE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND OF THE EARLY STATE CONSTITUTIONS”: SCARCE 1698 EDITION OF LOCKE’S TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT
LOCKE, John. Two Treatises of Government. London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, 1698. Octavo, period-style full speckled calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and boards, red morocco spine label, raised bands, marbled endpapers.
Third edition of Locke’s classic Two Treatises of Government, “credited with great influence on American constitutionalism," with an exceptional provenance traced back to the Earl of Orrery.
"In Two Treatises on Government… John Locke developed what he considered the 'true original, extent and end of civil government.' The First Treatise was devoted to a refutation of the theory of divine right monarchy expounded by Sir Robert Filmer in his Patriarcha, published in 1680. In his Second Treatise, Locke presented his positive views on the origins of the social order. Civil society and government, Locke argued, were founded on an original social compact entered into by autonomous individuals in a state of nature. The powers of government, Locke contended, were limited by the authority granted by the free consent of the individuals subscribing to the social compact. Locke's Second Treatise has been credited with great influence on American constitutionalism… Locke had a profound impact…. on the theoretical basis for forming new governments… Locke had a formative influence on the principles of the Declaration of Independence and on the early state constitutions" (A Covenanted People 37). "The Second Treatise contains a plain statement of the principles of democracy. In an age and country in which the practice of democracy had just been triumphantly vindicated, Locke's theories… had all the freshness of novelty… civil rulers hold their power not absolutely but conditionally; government being essentially a moral trust, which lapses if the trustees fail to maintain their side of the contract."
Locke's Treatises on Government "provide a classic example of the empirical approach to social and political economy which has remained ever since the basis of the principles of democracy" (PMM 163). In particular, "Locke underpinned all of Jefferson's political thought' (Randall, 205). First issued in 1690 from the same publishers in an exceptionally rare edition. Mispagination of page 95 without loss of text as issued. Goldsmiths' 3546. Wing L2768. Pforzheimer 613. Sweet & Maxwell I:610.52. Palgrave II:634. See Lowndes, 2198. Early owner signature above title page of "William R. Williams." Extensive information on this copy's provenance is noted on two preliminary blanks in an early unidentified manuscript hand, stating in part: "This copy belonged once to the Library of the Earl of Orrery, the great Irish family from which came the Christian philosopher Robert Boyle." The lineage of the Earl of Orrery is traceable to Richard Boyle, first Earl of Cork (1566-1643), lord high treasurer of Ireland, and his youngest son, Robert Boyle (1627-1691), famed for "Boyle's Law" and The Sceptical Chymist (1661), "a masterpiece of scientific literature" (Horblit 14). Additional ownership notes of Montgomery Evans, along with his bookplate, engraved by S.H. Sime. Well known in literary circles, Evans had friendships with many writers and editors. During a tour of Europe in 1924 he also "spent time with Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Pankhurst and Sylvia Beach." Shortly before his death in 1954 Evans "sold most of his valuable collection of books and manuscripts" (Montgomery Evans II Papers, Southern Illinois University).
Text fresh with only small bit of marginal wormholing minimally affecting text to only a few leaves, initial blank with slight dampstaining. A highly desirable near-fine copy.