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An Enquiry into the origin of Honour, and The Usefulness of Christianity in War.
by MANDEVILLE, Bernard
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Printed for John Brotherton,, 1732. First edition of the final book by the great political philosopher. The Enquiry develops the arguments of the Fable of the Bees (1729), Mandeville's most famous work. The work is structured as a dialogue between two interlocutors, Horatio and Cleomenes, whom Mandeville acknowledges elsewhere as his alter ego. Within a few weeks of the Enquiry's publication, George Berkeley had published his famed attack on Mandeville in the Alciphron. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) grew up and studied in the Netherlands, before settling in England after the Glorious Revolution. In the Enquiry, he outlines a sociological analysis of contemporary systems of honour and religion, arguing that each functions as a device for socializing humans. For Richard Cook, the Enquiry allowed Mandeville to expand and embellish his arguments "with a show of urbane detachment in sharp contrast to the clamorous abuse favored by most of his critics" (p. 143). Octavo (195 x 121 mm). Contemporary panelled calf, recently rebacked to style, spine ruled in gilt and with raised bands and red morocco label, edges sprinkled red. Woodcut vignette to title page, head- and tailpieces. Eighteenth-century engraved bookplate of Sir John Powell (1753-1822) to front pastedown. Light rubbing, a couple of spots of browning and foxing, otherwise internally fresh: a very good copy. ESTC T59021; Kaye pp. 440ff. Richard Cook, Bernard Mandeville, 1974.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 172962
- Title
- An Enquiry into the origin of Honour, and The Usefulness of Christianity in War.
- Author
- MANDEVILLE, Bernard
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- London: Printed for John Brotherton,
- Date Published
- 1732
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:
- 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...
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- 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...
- 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....
- Device
- Especially for older books, a printer's device refers to an identifying mark, also sometimes called a printer's mark, on 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...
- Vignette
- A decorative design or illustration placed at the beginning or end of a ...
- 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...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- 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...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
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