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Essays on Suicide and the Immortality of the Soul.: Never before published. With Remarks, intended as an Antidote to the Poison contained in these Performances, by the Editor. To which is added, Two Letters on Suicide, from Rosseau's Eloisa.
by HUME, David
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Printed for M. Smith,, 1783. His most substantial essays on religion Second edition in English overall, the first to acknowledge Hume as the author. These controversial essays assert that individuals have a moral right to commit suicide, and that life after death is highly improbable. This edition is scarce in commerce: we trace one previous auction listing in the past 60 years. Hume (1711-1776) originally included these essays in the proposed Five Dissertations volume in 1755. Hostile reactions from readers of prepublication copies led Hume and his publisher to replace the two essays with "On the Standards of Taste", and to release the book as Four Dissertations in January 1757. Despite this, several sets of the original sheets were smuggled out: pirated copies were published anonymously in French in 1770 and in an anonymous, corrupted English edition of 1777. This edition, which reprints the 1777 text, was the first to package the essays with extracts from Rousseau's Julie: Or, The New Heloise (1781). The book was issued with a final unpaginated leaf, with a page of "Arguments against Suicide" made by the publisher: that leaf is not present in this copy. Octavo in fours (165 x 97 mm). Contemporary half calf, spine ruled in gilt between raised bands, later brown morocco label, sprinkled paper sides, edges sprinkled red. Minor bumping and rubbing, cosmetic split to front inner hinge, faint browning and foxing to endpapers, title page with skilful restoration to blank verso where stamp has been erased, contents generally fresh: a very good copy. Fieser 22A.3; Jessop, p. 35.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 160188
- Title
- Essays on Suicide and the Immortality of the Soul.
- Author
- HUME, David
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- London: Printed for M. Smith,
- Date Published
- 1783
Terms of Sale
Peter Harrington
All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.
About the Seller
Peter Harrington
Biblio member since 2006
London
About Peter Harrington
Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Hinge
- The portion of the book closest to the spine that allows the book to be opened and closed.
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
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