1. Aiken, Henry David / John Rawls / Donald Davidson / Rudolf Carnap / Roderick M. Chisholm / Nelson Goodman / Raphael Demos and others.

Collection of manuscript material, offprints, association-copies and books from the library and personal collection of Professor Henry David Aiken, American Philosopher, specialist on Analytic Philosophy, Aesthetics, Ethics and Education at the Universities of Columbia, Harvard, Michigan and Brandeis. The collection reflects Aiken’s deep connections to the important postwar-period of great thinkers at American Universities like Harvard and Brandeis. Aiken was friends with John Rawls, Raphael Demos, Daniel Bell, Arnold Kaufman, Stephen Toulmin, Israel Scheffler. Aiken’s “Beloved teacher” and mentor was Ralph Barton Perry (see his dedication in “Predicament of the University”). More importantly, Aiken was accepted as scholar and friend around important thinkers like Willard Van Orman Quine, Alfred North Whitehead, Robert Nozick and John Rawls. The collection includes first edition offprints from nearly all of these mentioned, including the rare first appearance of John Rawls’ “Justice as Fairness” in its original wrappers-issue from 1957 [See on our website images under “Libraries & Collections”]. The collection also includes materials previously inscribed and gifted to fellow philosophers in Aiken’s circle of friends, now reunited with this Archive. [Please enquire for access to excellent photographs and descriptions to each title, included in this collection]. The collection includes for example the Proof of Aiken’s publication “The Predicament of the University” [Working-Title: “The Future of the University”] – This title is of great interest alone, with Aiken’s annotations. Also included is the first edition of Aiken’s personal copy of his Thesis for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts: “Hegel’s Philosophy of Fine Art – A Study with special reference to the Theory of Tragedy”. Among the collection are roughly 200 offprints, often with dedications and inscriptions to colleagues. [Each title is listed in detail, with images, on our website under “Libraries & Collections” (click on “Henry D. Aiken Collection”).

Harvard / Brandeis / Cambridge (Mass.) etc., c. 1935 – 1975. Octavo & Quarto. More than 2000 pages. Original Softcover / Stapled. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear.

2. Russell, Bertrand.

Collection of important publications by and on the British Philosopher Bertrand Russell [some of the publications from libraries of important philosophers like Quine]. The collection includes: 1. Bertrand Russell – War – The Offspring of Fear (First Edition – London, 1914) / 2. Bertrand Russell – Ideas that have harmed Mankind – Man’s Unfortunate Experience with his self-made enemies, including sadistic Impulses, Religion, Superstition, Envy, Economic Nationalism, Pride, Racism, Sex Superiority, Creeds and other evil things. (First Edition – Girard (Kansas), 1946) [From the library of Henry David Aiken] / 3. Bertrand Russell – Scientific Method in Philosophy (First Edition – Oxford, 1914) / 4. [Bertrand Russell] Paul Foulkes – Wisdom of the West (London, 1960) / 5. Bertrand Russell – The Analysis of Mind (London, 1951) / 6. Bertrand Russell – “Per Aspera ad Astra” (in: “Science and the Future of Mankind” – together with essays by Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer others, this copy used to belong to the library of Boston’s “Simmons College”) / 7. Ronald Jager – The Development of Bertrand Russell’s Philosophy [From the library of philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine (with inscription and signed by Jager to Quine)] / 8. Quine, Willard Van Orman / Heimpel, Carl G./ Wang, Hao – Symposium – Issue on Bertrand Russell by “The Journal of Philosophy”: ‘The Philosophy of Bertrand Russell’: Willard van Orman Quine – Russell’s Ontological Development / Carl G. Hempel – On Russell’s Phenomenological Constructionism / Hao Wang – Russell and Philosophy // A Historical Survey of Western Philosophy in its Social and Political Setting.

London / Oxford / Den Haag and others, Clarendon Press / Dr.Junk / Allen and Unwin / Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1914 – 1972. Original Hardcover and Softcover – Bindings. Only one publications iwth some minor damage, otherwise all publications in very good or even better condition with only minor signs of external wear.

3. Randolph, Thomas [President of Corpus Christi College Oxford].

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity – From the exceptions of a late Pamphlet entituled “An Essay on Spirit” &c. [By a Divine of the Church of England] / In Three Parts, with an Appendix [″An Appendix to the Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity &c Containing some Remarks on the Dedication prefix’d to the “Essay on Spirit”].

First Edition. Oxford, Printed at the Theatre for James Fletcher in the Turl, 1754. Octavo. 101, (2), 104, 134 pages plus Appendix: 70 pages plus (10 unnumbered pages, including one page of advertising). Hardcover / Original 18th-century calf with gilt ornament and original spine-label. In protective collector’s Mylar. Besides some abrasions and minor damages to the boards in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Bookplate of Daniel Conner to pastedown. Extremely rare !

4. [Newton, Sir Isaac] Voltaire [François-Marie Arouet] / Leibniz / Baker, David Erskine / [Berkeley, George].

The Metaphysics of Sir Isaac Newton : Or, A Comparison between the Opinions of Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Leibnitz [Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz]. By M. De Voltaire. Translated from the French by David Erskine Baker / [Bound together with a First Edition of George Berkeley’s Miscellaneous Tracts which also include “De Motu ; sive de motus principio & natura, & de causa communicationis motuum” in which Berkeley rejected Sir Isaac Newton’s absolute Space, Time and Motion. (″With this essay, Berkeley is considered to be the “precursor of Mach and Einstein” – Karl Popper)].

First English Edition. London, Printed for R.Dodsley, 1747. Octavo. 72 pages. Modern cloth. The bookblock with signs of stitching to the inner margin (possibly used to be part of a Sammelband). Last three leaves with paper-restoration and manuscript inscription to last page (looks like a 18th century gift-inscription). With numerous manuscript – annotations in the tracts of George Berkeley, namely in “A Word to the Wise”, “Farther Thoughts on Tar-Water”, “The Querist”. From the library of Daniel Conner, Manch House, County Cork.

5. Lilly, William.

Christian Astrology [Bound before:] An Easie and plain Method – Teaching How to judge upon Nativities. The Rectification of a Nativitie by Trutine of Hermes, Animodar or by Accidents. A Brief Way of Judgement, declaring those generall Accidents which in a natural course depend upon the signification of the 12 Houses of Heaven. The effects of Directions, Revolutions, Profections and Transits; the exact Measure of Time in Directions. By William Lilly, Student in Astrology” – “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis”. [Includes several sections on Women in relation to Astrology and Prophecies like for example: “″If ones Lover or wife hath a Sweet-Heart besides himself” (page 316) / “Hath she a Lover” (page 316) / “Of a Woman flying [fleeing] from her husband” (page 330) / “Of Death, Dowry, Substance of the Wife &c.” (page 404) / etc.].

Original Edition (NOT a Reprint). Two works in one Volume. London, [John Macock], 1658 / [1659]. Octavo (14,5 cm x 19 cm). Pagination: Portrait and Titlepage missing, 18 unnumbered pages “To The Reader” / “The Contents”, [1] page “To the Student in Astrology” by William Lilly / [16] unnumbered pages of “Lunar Aspects” and “Tables of Houses”, pages 25 – 832 pages plus a manuscript Index and some very few manuscript annotations in ink. [The publication on Nativities has its own titlepage on page 487 of the book]. Hardcover / Ugly, Private 20th-century binding. Poor condition, Portrait and titlepage and maybe some more pages of the Introduction missing, beginning and end of the book with frail, some detached pages with some strong fraying. Page 703 with tear. Still a very, very rare book with some amazing historical astrology and related history like “Table of Longitudes and Latitudes of certain Cities and great Towns in England” (mentioning also “Dublin in Ireland” and “Edinborough in Scotland”. The privately affixed Index condensed some secret knowledge important to the preowner of this book: “Colours of the Planets”, “Combustion”, “Face of a Planet”, “Names of Planets and Signs”, and it also mentions a case in which a “Thief to be judged of by the peregrine Planet” etc. From the 18th-century-library of one “Joseph Clark”, with his name in ink verso the titlepage of the “Nativities”: “Joseph Clark – his Book – 1765”.

6. James, William / [Gibbens, Alice Howe].

The Energies of Men. [Personal copy of William James’ wife Alice Howe Gibbens – signed: “A.H.James”]. Stunning provenance of the First Edition-offprint from ‘The Philosophical Review’, Vol. XVI, No. 1, January, 1907, of William James’ Presidential Address to the American Philosophical Association on December 28th, 1906. A study of psychic energy ranging from Pierre Janet to Yoga to the “mind-cure” movement. James already is fascinated in this address about G.Papini’s “Doctrine of Action”, “the study of all human powers and means”.

1907. Octavo. 19 pages. Original Wrappers / Softcover. The wrappers detached and brittle. The pages stapled and in very good condition. James retired in January 1907 from Harvard. Possibly one of the rarest offprints with a William James-connection and with high probability, a gift from James to his wife. Books with the provenance of his wife never seem to surface on the market.

7. Hingeston, James.

Discourses upon the Divine Covenants – Or, an Enquiry into the Origin and Progress of Religion, Natural and Revealed. Part I [all published plus an Appendix with Dissertations].

This is the First Edition (not a reproduction). London, Printed for M. Hingeston and T.Cadell, 1771. Octavo. XXI, [Errata], 287 pages. Hardcover / Original, 18th century full calf with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown. Very Rare !

8. Gregory, G. [Reverend George Gregory].

Essays – Historical and Moral [including “Freedom of Speech and of the Press” and “Resistance to the Legislature” an ‘Essay on the Slavery of the Female Sex’ – ‘Of the Schemes asserting an Equality of the Sexes’ and ‘The History of the Female Sex’ and the ‘General State of the Controversy concerning the Inferiority of the Female Understanding’ / “Inquiry how far our commerce would be affected by the Abolition of the Slave Trade in respect of our West India Colonies”].

First Edition. London, Printed for J.Johnson, 1785. Octavo. VIII, 349 pages. Hardcover / Original, 18th century full calf with original spine-label. Front hinge weak but holding. Minor scuffing and rubbing. Overall in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Halftitle present but front free endpaper missing. Text in excellent condition. Exlibris / Bookplate of Daniel Conner to pastedown. Extremely Rare and important publication with early remarks on Gender Equality and a lengthy section on the justification of Slavery.

9. Derham, William [Philosopher and Scientist] / [John Senex (Cartographer)].

Astro-Theology: or, a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, From a Survey of the Heavens [Including a Chapter on the “Attraction of Gravity”].

Sixth Edition. London, W. Innys, 1731. Octavo. [16], LVI, [8], 246 pages,[10 pages of Index], [with 3 astronomical foldout engravings by english Cartographer and Explorer John Senex / The Engravings show the Ptolemaic Geocentric System with the Earth as centre of the Universe and discuss other models as well by pointing to pages within the text that reflect on the illustrations / Two of the Engravings are showing the Stars and Constellations over Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Asia etc.]. ]. Original Hardcover / bound in contemporary panelled calf. The book has been sympathetically rebacked to style. Besides a spot of hard green adhesive to the front board in very good condition. The armorial 18th century bookplate of one Dr. Blackett appears on the first pastedown [″A coat of arms divided into three portions, with three stars and three scallop shells throughout. At the helm is the head of an eagle, and elaborate mantling, flowers, and leaves surround the crest. Below is the motto ‘Nous Travailler ons dans L’Esperance’”] / The text of this rare and notoriously underrated book is complete and clean with the three foldout engravings of the cosmos to the rear with only a small archival paper restoration to one of the engravings.

10. Cicero, Marcus Tullius.

M. Tullii Ciceronis Opera, cum delectu commentariorum. Edebat Josephus Olivetus, Academiae Gallicae XLVir.

Editio Tertia, Emendatissima. [9 Volumes – complete set]. Geneva, Fratres Cramer, 1758. Quarto (22 cm x 25 cm). Tomus Primus (Quo Rhetorica continentur.): XXX, 656 pages / Tomus Secundus (Qui Philosophicorum primus): 14, 674 pages / Tomus Tertius (Qui Philosophicorum alter.): 711, (1) pages / Tomus Quartus (Qui Orationum primus): 683 pages / Tomus Quintus (Qui Orationum secundus including “De Lege Agraria”): 687, (1) pages / Tomus Sextus (Qui Orationum tertius): 677, (1) pages / Tomus Septimus (In quo Epistolae ad Familiares): 656, (4) pages / Tomus Octavus (In quo Epistolae ad Atticum): 667 pages / Tomus Nonus (In quo Epistolae ad Q. Fratrem, &c.): 364 pages plus 303 pages of Index Ciceroniani Quatuor // Hardcover / Original parchment with original marbled paper covered pastedowns and endpapers. Bookplate / Exlibris of Daniel Conner to pastedown. Volume One and occasional some of the other Volumes with some signs of an old, faded dampstain but the set generally in very good, original condition with only minor signs of external wear. Wonderful set from the library of a student to Oxford University. The set is full of wonderful text-vignettes and besides the clear and spacious typography, the majority of the text is in clean condition.