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SPINOZA, Baruch (later Benedictus de, 1632-1677). Tractatus theologico-politicus continens dissertationes aliquot. 'Hamburg: Henricus Künrath' [Amsterdam: Jan Rieuwertsz], 1670 [?after 1677].
4° (203 x 159mm). Text in Roman, Italic and Hebrew, woodcut vignette on title. (Title and few leaves at beginning lightly waterstained, affecting mainly the margins, lacking the blank Gg2, margins lightly soiled.) Contemporary vellum manuscript title on spine (recased, head of spine repaired, rear free endpaper tipped-in, soiled). Provenance: Boies Penrose II (bookplate), American lawyer and senator from Pennsylvania from 1897 until his death in 1921 -- purchased from Charles Sessler, Philadelphia, 28 January 1946, $35.
FIRST EDITION, FOURTH ISSUE of Spinoza's first great work, with Künraht spelt 'Künrath' on title, p.192 misnumbered 92 and without the errata. The Tractatus Theologico-Politicus 'is a solitary but crystal clear exposition of the theory of natural right' (PMM). Spinoza blends the traditions of his Hebraic background with Cartesian rationalism, the philosophy he adopted following his break with Jewish orthodoxy in 1656. The Tractatus extends his ethical views into the realm of politics, and contains the first clear statement of the mutual independence of philosophy and religion. 'Spinoza, to whom any controversy was abhorrent, did not publish the Tractatus until 1670, and then anonymously with a bogus imprint.' PMM 153.
4° (203 x 159mm). Text in Roman, Italic and Hebrew, woodcut vignette on title. (Title and few leaves at beginning lightly waterstained, affecting mainly the margins, lacking the blank Gg2, margins lightly soiled.) Contemporary vellum manuscript title on spine (recased, head of spine repaired, rear free endpaper tipped-in, soiled). Provenance: Boies Penrose II (bookplate), American lawyer and senator from Pennsylvania from 1897 until his death in 1921 -- purchased from Charles Sessler, Philadelphia, 28 January 1946, $35.
FIRST EDITION, FOURTH ISSUE of Spinoza's first great work, with Künraht spelt 'Künrath' on title, p.192 misnumbered 92 and without the errata. The Tractatus Theologico-Politicus 'is a solitary but crystal clear exposition of the theory of natural right' (PMM). Spinoza blends the traditions of his Hebraic background with Cartesian rationalism, the philosophy he adopted following his break with Jewish orthodoxy in 1656. The Tractatus extends his ethical views into the realm of politics, and contains the first clear statement of the mutual independence of philosophy and religion. 'Spinoza, to whom any controversy was abhorrent, did not publish the Tractatus until 1670, and then anonymously with a bogus imprint.' PMM 153.
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