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HUME (DAVID) A Treatise of Human Nature, being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects, 3 vol. (Of the Understanding; Of the Passions; An Appendix... of Morals), FIRST EDITION, John Noon [-Thomas Longman], 1739-1740 image 1
HUME (DAVID) A Treatise of Human Nature, being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects, 3 vol. (Of the Understanding; Of the Passions; An Appendix... of Morals), FIRST EDITION, John Noon [-Thomas Longman], 1739-1740 image 2
Lot 69

HUME (DAVID)
A Treatise of Human Nature, being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects, 3 vol. (Of the Understanding; Of the Passions; An Appendix... of Morals), FIRST EDITION, John Noon [-Thomas Longman], 1739-1740

25 March 2015, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £80,500 inc. premium

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HUME (DAVID)

A Treatise of Human Nature, being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects, 3 vol. (Of the Understanding; Of the Passions; An Appendix... of Morals), FIRST EDITION, advertisement leaf at end of volume 1, woodcut headpieces, ornaments and initials, without the 4 leaves of advertisements recorded by Jessop (but not in Rothschild copy), volume 1 with blank endpapers loose, collector's stamp touching signature on E2 and very thin worm trail in lower margin of final few leaves; volume 2 with very light stain affecting side-note on 5 pages; volume 3 F6 a cancel, thin worm trail in lower margin just touching signature on D2-3, but generally very clean internally, uniform contemporary calf, gilt tooled spines with raised bands, gilt morocco lettering labels, rubbed, joints cracked [PMM 194; Rothschild 1171], 8vo (194 x 126mm.), John Noon [-Thomas Longman], 1739-1740

Footnotes

FIRST EDITION OF HUME'S FIRST BOOK. "In the Treatise...we have the first attempt to apply Locke's empirical psychology to build a theory of knowledge, and from it to provide a critique of metaphysical ideas... Though universally hailed at the time, the full importance of his conclusions was hardly appreciated until Bentham realized Humes' utilitarianism and Mill his logic" (PMM).

Provenance: James Durham of Largo, nineteenth century armorial bookplate.

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