A General View of Positivism by Auguste Comte, 1880, Second Edition, Half Leather Binding

Title: A General View of Positivism; or, Summary Exposition of the System of Thought and Life, Adapted to the Great Western Republic, Formed of the Five Advanced Nations, the French, Italian, Spanish, British and German, Which, Since the Time of Charlemagne, Have Always Constituted a Political Whole Author: Auguste Comte Translator: J. H. Bridges, M.B., Fellow of the College of Physicians, Late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Publisher: London: Reeves & Turner, 196 Strand Publication Date: 1880 Edition: Second Edition Binding: Hardcover – contemporary half calf over burgundy cloth boards Pagination: xii, 295 pp. Condition: Good Description: Auguste Comte's A General View of Positivism, translated from the French by J. H. Bridges. Second Edition, published in London by Reeves & Turner in 1880. An important nineteenth-century exposition of Comte's Positivist philosophy, presenting his system of thought and social organisation and his conception of the "Great Western Republic" formed by the French, Italian, Spanish, British and German nations. The work develops the intellectual, social and moral dimensions of Positivism and concludes with Comte's conception of the Religion of Humanity. This copy is attractively bound in contemporary half calf with burgundy cloth-covered boards, the spine divided into compartments with gilt rules and decorative gilt floral devices, and with a contrasting burgundy leather title label lettered in gilt, GENERAL VIEW OF POSITIVISM. The binding is tight and secure and both boards remain firmly attached. The leather spine shows noticeable age-related rubbing, scuffing and surface wear, with loss of finish in places and wear at the spine extremities. The leather corners and board edges show rubbing and bumping, with some surface loss, particularly at the corners. The burgundy cloth panels remain sound. Internally, the volume is well bound. There is minor scattered foxing to the endpapers and title-page area, together with light age-toning and occasional marks consistent with a book of this age. Overall, a sound and attractive copy retaining its characterful nineteenth-century half-leather binding. Please refer to the photographs for a detailed representation of the binding and condition. Bibliographical interest The original French work appeared as Discours sur l'ensemble du positivisme in 1848. This 1880 Reeves & Turner edition is identified bibliographically as the Second Edition of J. H. Bridges's English translation.…