About this Item
Original tooled leather with thin gilt double border lines and two black impressed decorated inner border lines to covers with floral corners to outer one, gilt-edged paneled spine with gilt on red label; front cover slightly loose but secure with cracked joint which has lost binding to two top panel edges, rubbing across top above outer black border line and small patches towards outer and bottom edge, outer corners rubbed, bottom edge rubbed to both covers, fore-edge rubbed at both ends but central deckled section remains, deckled top edge quite good, bottom corner by spine also rubbed, spine generally good but head-band has separated above top panel and bottom lost below bottom gilt panel lines, somewhat darkened, back cover much as front but more heavily rubbed, joint firm and only thinly split to top three panels, missing panel ridges, bottom outer corner rubbing quite heavy. Apparently the original binding. Black and red t.p. included in pagination + xl (Birch's Dedication, Advertisement and 'Account' to p.xxi, xxiii is black shorter t.p., rest to p.xl Cudworth's Preface dated 1671) +632 + Vol.2 half-title (thus lacks the red & black full t.p. of 2 volume set) +633-899+ [106, Contents, unpaginated) + 90 + (2, A. Millar pub. list). Main fault is wide gutter opening between fr. end-paper and t.p. showing right through front joint, although string stitching secure, early donation label of Essex Institute to fr. pastedown from a Miss Esther C. Mack, with two very small mostly faint 'release' stamps dated 1967, Mack sig. dated August 1848 to front end-paper, which also has an early price to top corner, small early sig. 'John Clarke' top t.p. which is quite inoffensive, otherwise tight and virtually unmarked though spotted a few very lightly erasable penciled marginalia, though more extensive early part of Chap.5, some gatherings are extensively but quite lightly tanned presumably due to paper stock used, otherwise only a few odd spots and hints of edge-tanning, text-block edges lightly red-tinted, a few dark spots to top edge by spine. First published in 1678 after some delay due to some antagonism on grounds that, despite the title, Cudworth was too soft on atheism in his thorough and serious explorations of its case. This is considered one of the most important works of the Cambridge Neo-Platonist school. 21 cm x 26 cm x 8 cm thick. Over 2 kg, UK postage & packing will be £6.50 standard and £10 1st class, overseas shipping will go by DPD courier and cost significantly more - advise contacting me before ordering to agree this. Seller Inventory # 012634
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