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LOCKE, John (1632-1704).] An Essay concerning Humane Understanding . London: [Elizabeth Holt] for Thomas Basset, and sold by Edward Mory, 1690.
LOCKE, John (1632-1704).] An Essay concerning Humane Understanding . London: [Elizabeth Holt] for Thomas Basset, and sold by Edward Mory, 1690. 2° (310 x 180mm). With the 11 contents leaves at end. (Title soiled and stained, some staining of text occasionally effacing one or two letters, more persistent and widespread stains in books three and four, mainly marginal soiling, repaired tear to Mm4 and Rr1 touching on text, final three leaves frayed at bottom edge.) [?]Contemporary calf, spine with raised bands and red morocco label, speckled edges (slight bumping to covers). Provenance : corrections in a contemporary hand, following the errata – John Abel 1751 (inscriptions on title; inked date of 1852 also on title) – bought at Phillips, 8 March 1977, lot 247 (invoice loosely inserted). FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE. The cancel title contains the inverted ‘ss’ of ‘Essay’, has a type ornament composed of twenty-three pieces, and omits Elizabeth Holt’s name in the imprint. The 29 leaves of emendations, printed in 1694 when the second edition was published, are not bound in. Although begun as early as 1671, Locke's great work of empirical philosophy was finally brought to completion during his years of exile in Holland (January 1684 - February 1688). By the end of 1686 it already existed in something close to its final form. Printing was finished about the end of November 1689, and it was on sale before its nominal year of publication began. Although there was no name on the title-page, Locke signed the ‘fulsome dedication’ to Thomas Earl of Pembroke. Few philosophical works have received such strength of recognition; it became the bedrock for enlightenment thinkers, and even John Stuart Mill accepted its author as 'the unquestioned founder of the analytic philosophy of mind'. Attig 228; Grolier English 36; Pforzheimer 600; PMM 164; Wing L-2739.