An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding: In Four Books.

Locke, John

Published by Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, at the Black-Swan in Pater-Noster Row, and Samuel Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal-Exchange, London, 1700

About this Item

Rare fourth edition of this fundamental work in the history of Western thought, the first to name Locke as the author and include the frontispiece portrait of him. Folio, bound in in full speckled calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins, engraved frontispiece portrait of Locke. An exceptional example. The second edition of Locke's essay contains a number of important changes and additions to the text. It was the first to name Locke as the author and include the frontispiece portrait of him. "It is Locke's second edition of the 'Essay on Human Understanding' that is the masterpiece we remember; the first, 1690, edition did not bear Locke's name, nor did it include a number of emendations that finished the work as Locke wanted it" (Matthews, Collecting Rare Books, 97). "Locke was the first to take up the challenge of Bacon and to attempt to estimate critically the certainty and the adequacy of human knowledge when confronted with God and the universe" (PMM 164).

Seller Inventory # 150333

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding: In Four Books.
• Publisher: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, at the Black-Swan in Pater-Noster Row, and Samuel Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal-Exchange, London
• Publication Date: 1700
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
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