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CHARACTERISTICKS OF MEN, MANNERS, OPINIONS, TIMES.
(Birmingham: John Baskerville, 1773). 248 x 154 mm. (9 3/4 x 6"). With errata leaf in third volume. Three volumes. First Baskerville Edition.
ELEGANT 19TH CENTURY CRIMSON MOROCCO, LAVISHLY GILT, BY HAYDAY (stamp-signed on verso of front free endpaper in volume III), covers with intricate, lacy gilt frame of myriad small tools, including a charming pair of birds, raised bands, spines gilt in compartments with central floral spray within a lozenge of small tools, flourished leafy cornerpieces, gilt lettering, densely gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt. Frontispiece portrait of Shaftesbury engraved by Simon Gribelin after J. Closterman, four title pages (a general title and one for each volume) with engraved vignettes, as well as engraved vignette headpieces at the beginning of each of the text's seven parts, all signed by Gribelin. Front pastedowns with modern paper bookplate featuring a gilt gorgon with a cipher above it. Gaskell 49; Lowndes III, 2251. Spines faintly sunned to a pleasing shade of rose, frontispiece and general title a bit foxed, occasional minor foxing elsewhere in volume I (and just a trace in volumes II and III), light offsetting from engravings, other trivial imperfections, but still a fine set--the sumptuous bindings lustrous, with minimal wear and bright gilt, and clean, fresh, and amply-margined internally.
Printed by the best English press of the period, this is a major edition of a signal contribution to British enlightenment philosophy, offered here in a very beautifully bound set executed by one of the most prominent and productive English artisans of the 19th century. In the work, Shaftesbury moved away from the pessimism of Hobbes and skepticism of Locke and exerted great influence on the positivist thinking of later authors such as Hume and Adam Smith. Four of the seven works collected here are philosophical essays that the author had begun to publish in 1708; the fifth is an early work, "An Inquiry concerning Virtue and Merit"; "Miscellaneous Reflections" was newly written for the first publication of "Characteristicks" in 1711; and the final essay, "Hercules," was composed shortly before the author's death in 1713. Shaftesbury is an appealing thinker, deeply optimistic about human nature and capabilities, a believer in a kindly deity and an opponent of dogmatism and intolerance. A strong believer in freedom of opinion, he prefers gentle derision, rather than denunciation, of false views. Anthony Ashley Cooper, third Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713), was thoroughly educated in the classics, and he was deeply influenced by ancient philosophical thought, particularly the writings of Marcus Aurelius. His education was designed by John Locke himself, the family doctor and friend. Due to chronic ill health, our author led a retired life, and frequently resided in Holland, where both the air and the intellectual freedom attracted him. John Baskerville (1707-75) started his career as a writing master, then began cutting letters for gravestones. As a printer, he left a typeface as his most enduring legacy to the art of the book, and the beauty of Baskerville typefaces is attested to by the popularity they have enjoyed ever since their creator's time. Binder James Hayday (1796-1872) first appeared in the London directories in 1825, and a dozen years later, he was employing a staff of between 30 and 40, including 10 finishers. He was known for his decorative work, using high quality leather and being very liberal with gilt embellishment. In his book on the Oldaker Collection, Nixon describes Hayday as "one of the better documented London binders of the 19th century, since he had the misfortune to go bankrupt in 1861," though "he evidently enjoyed considerable prosperity up to 1848." The present extremely ornate and perfectly accomplished bindings make a statement from the shelf of almost symphonic beauty, and one that is likely never to grow old. (ST20556)
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