Hobbes, Thomas | First edition, first issue of Hobbes's magisterial treatise of political theory

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

Hobbes, Thomas

Leviathan, or the Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill. London: Printed for Andrew Crooke, 1651

Small folio (280 x 188 mm). Additional engraved title-page, letterpress title-page with head ornament, folding letterpress table; State 2 of leaf A4; marginal repaired tear on A4, wormtracks in first 75 pages catching some letters, the tracks occasionally repaired and affecting letters in the first 24 pages, a few penciled underlinings and one marginal note in ink, occasional light browning. Later calf, gilt tool on sides, spine in six compartments with five raised bands, lettering-piece in one; spine slightly faded, some light wear at extremities, rear endpaper repaired.

First edition, first issue of Hobbes's magisterial treatise of political theory, written while he was resident in Paris, expounding the idea of a "social contract" freely entered into between an absolute ruler and their subjects. His idea that the sovereign should also be head of the state's religion led to trouble with the Roman Catholic Church, who placed Leviathan on the Index of Prohibited Books, and similarly the English Parliament investigated the atheist ideas contained within the book. The folding table displays Hobbes's logical categorization of subjects and knowledge.

REFERENCE:

Macdonald & Hargreaves/Hobbes 42; PMM 138; Wing H2246

PROVENANCE:

John Sutton Utterton (armorial bookplate) — University College London Library (inkstamps on front endleaves)