[Devonshire, William Cavendish, Earl of] | First edition of Horæ subseciuæ

[Devonshire, William Cavendish, Earl of]

Horæ subseciuæ. Observations and discourses. London: Printed [by Eliot’s Court Press] for Edward Blount, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the signe of the Black Beare, 1620

8vo (151 x 100 mm). Title and text within rules, woodcut headpieces and initials, a few contemporary annotations in sepia ink, including "Lord Bacon" on title; minor marginal toning, upper margin shaved in a few instances, small burn hole to T3 just affecting two letters, library stamp to page 57, a few instances of faint staining and soiling, very faint dampstaining to final leaves. Contemporary speckled calf, spine with raised bands in five compartments, covers ruled in blind, edges speckled red; rebacked to style, corners bumped, extremities rubbed, lacking front pastedown, front free endpaper detached, some loss to rear endpaper.  

First edition, now often attributed to English philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

Comprising twelve "Observations" ("of arrogance," "of ambition," "of affectation," etc.) and four longer discourses, the present is sometimes also attributed to Grey Brydges, Baron Chandos, and Gilbert Cavendish. William Cavendish was deeply influenced by Montaigne, Bacon, and Hobbes. A critical modern edition of newly identified work of the young Hobbes (University of Chicago Press, 1996), argues that three of the longer essays — "A Discourse of Laws," "A Discourse of Rome," and "A Discourse upon the Beginning of Tacitus" — were written by Hobbes while tutor to Cavendish, and that the other thirteen were by his pupil. 

Scarce

REFERENCE

STC 3957; ESTC S105996

PROVENANCE

Library of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (stamp to page 57)