“THE GERM OF ALL IDEAS CAN BE FOUND IN PLATO”: FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST COLLECTED WORKS OF PLATO TO APPEAR IN ENGLISH

PLATO. The Works of Plato Abridg'd, with an Account of His Life, Philosophy, Morals, and Politicks. London: A. Bell, 1701. Two volumes. Octavo, contemporary full speckled brown calf, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines. $18,500.

Rare first edition of the first collected works of Plato in English, handsomely bound in contemporary calf-gilt.

Contains the first appearances in English of the first and second Alcibiades (the second, abridged), Euthyphron, Theages, Laches, Protagoras, and second appearances of the Apology and Phaedo(which first appeared in English in 1675). "That Plato should be the first of all the ancient philosophers to be translated and broadcast by the printing press was inevitable… Amidst a great diversity, both of subject and treatment, the dialogues are pervaded by two dominant impulses: a love of truth and a passion for human improvement. While nowhere is a definite system laid down, it has been truly said that the germ of all ideas can be found in Plato" (PMM 27). This edition was translated from André Dacier's French edition of 1699. Dacier's wife Anne was a frequent collaborator of his and a renowned classicist in her own right, possessing a scholarly reputation far beyond that of her husband. The Dacier editions (in both English and French) remained the standard text throughout the 18th century. Brueggemann, 150. Harris, 115. Lowndes, 1877. ESTC T132434. Bookplates.

Scattered light foxing, a few early ink marks to text, faint dampstaining along top of some leaves in Volume II; binding with expert restoration, primarily to joints, spine ends and board extremities. Excellent in full contemporary speckled calf binding.