1748 The Principles of Natural Law. In Which the True Systems of Morality and Civil Government Are Established

The desirable first English edition of a foundational Enlightenment work on natural rights, moral and political authority. In a contemporary full calf binding. First English edition, translated from the French by Thomas Nugent, and published one year after the original Geneva edition. An important Enlightenment treatise establishing a rational system of natural law founded upon humanity"s pursuit of happiness. Burlamaqui examines morality and civil government while engaging with Grotius, Hobbes, Pufendorf, Barbeyrac, Locke, Clarke and Hutcheson. Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui (1694-1748) was a Genevan jurist, statesman and professor of natural and civil law at the Academy of Geneva. His theory of natural-law theory became an influential university text, appearing in more than sixty editions and serving as a standard work at Cambridge and leading American colleges. In a contemporary full calf binding.Externally, generally smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities, resulting in slight loss to calf. Cracking to upper half of front joint; slight cracking to lower rear joint. Slight rubbing with the odd scuff and scratch to boards. The odd faint mark to boards. Minor loss and chipping to spine ends. Discolouration from binder's glue to endpapers. Creasing to front free endpapers. Previous owner's bookplate to front paste down; bookplate of Michael Cecil de Courcy Peele to front free endpaper alongside discreet contemporary ink inscription, dated 1751. Lifting to calf at tail of spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with the odd light spot. Very Good.…