* * * N E W A C Q U I S I T I O N S * J U L Y 2 0 2 4 B A U M A N R A R E B O O K S 23 "THE MOST ORIGINAL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER OF HIS TIME" (PMM): FIRST COLLECTED EDITION OF HOBBES' TRACTS, 1682 23. HOBBES, Thomas. Tracts… Containing I. Behemoth… II. An Answer to Arch-Bishop Bramhall’s Book… III. An Historical Narration of Heresie… IV. Philosophical Problems. London, 1682. Octavo, contemporary full dark brown mottled calf. $5200 First collected edition of four late works by Thomas Hobbes, revised from the original manuscripts, including Behemoth, Hobbes’ dialogue-history of the Civil War, as well as his Answer to Archbishop Bramhall, a useful source for Hobbes’ complicated religious doctrines. An excellent copy, complete with engraved frontispiece portrait and folding engraved plate, in contemporary calf. This posthumous collection includes Behemoth, Hobbes’ dialogue-history of the Civil War, originally written in the 1660s and suppressed by Charles II. The work was originally published without Hobbes’ authorization (and to his considerable discomfort) in 1679; the present edition, published by Hobbes’ chosen publisher, William Crooke, constitutes the first authorized edition. The Answer to Archbishop Bramhall, drawn up in 1668, is Hobbes’ final reply in his long-running dispute with John Bramhall over liberty and free will, written when Bramhall had been dead for five years. The Historical Narration of Heresy and the Punishment Thereof, also written in 1668, responds to a bill, contemplated in the House of Commons, to punish atheistic tendencies. The thrust of these measures was widely understood to be aimed at Hobbes in particular; he responded by arguing that perhaps people ought not to be burned for that offense. Crooke originally published this work in 1680. Finally, the Philosophical Problems contain various exercises on gravity, vacuums, motion, and geometry. The work was originally published as the Problemata Physica in 1662—Crooke notes that the English translation was undertaken by Hobbes himself at the same time. This is the first edition in English. To many Hobbes remains “the most original political philosopher of his time” (PMM 138). With general title page; each work with individual title page as well. Bound with leaf of publisher’s advertisements at rear. Macdonald & Hargreaves 100. With the 20th-century bookplate of the Fox Pointe Manor library of Howard and Linda Krohl; early owner ink signature on general title page. Text generally clean; mild rubbing to sound and attractive binding. A desirable, extremely good copy in unrestored contemporary calf.
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