Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous. The Design of which Is plainly to demonstrate the Reality and Perfection of Humane Knowledge, the Incorporeal Nature of the Soul, and the Immediate Providence of a Deity: In Opposition to Sceptics and Atheists. Also, To open a Method for rendering the Sciences more easy, useful, and compendious.
London: Henry Clements, 1713.
First edition, first printing of George Berkeley's work of philosophy. [x], 166, [vi], 44 pp. Octavo, bound in full contemporary mottled calf, laced in boards. Blindstamped ruled borders, red morocco title label to spine, all edges speckled red. Bound together with the third edition of another work by Berkeley, also published by Henry Clements in 1713: Passive Obedience, Or, the Christian Doctrine Of Not Resisting the Supreme Power, Proved and Vindicated upon the Principles of the Law of Nature. In a Discourse Deliver'd at the College-Chapel. Very Good with moderate wear to boards, cracking to leather at extremities, minimal chipping at head and tail of spine, and rounded and bumped corners. Joints repaired, leather coated with preservative. Previous owner names have been torn from free endpapers, cut more carefully from upper margins of first two leaves. Several 18th century ink markings and inscription "Owner / 1720" remain on the endpapers. The two books are printed on different paper stock. Three Dialogues is slightly tanned with scattered foxing to margins; Passive Obedience is heavily toned. Both books collated complete. From the library of William A. Strutz with his small bookplate to the front pastedown. George Berkeley (1685 - 1753) was an Anglo-Irish philosopher and clergyman who advocated the view that objects cannot exist without being perceived. He wrote Three Dialogues in order to expand on the ideas expressed in his most notable work, A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge. Passive Obedience is a call to obey established authorities, God above all. That a third edition was published just one year after the first is testament to the intensity of Enlightenment debates about the relationships between individuals and church and state.
Price: $3,000