ENGLISH PHILOSOPHER AND JURIST; ONE OF THE CHIEF EXPOUNDERS OF UTILITARIANISM; AUTHOR OF INTRODUCTION TO THE “PRINCIPLES OF MORALS AND LEGISLATION” Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, full page, small quarto, undated. A portion of the original manuscript of the second edition of Chrestomathia, with corrections and additions in the text by Bentham. “Impracticability, uselessness, mischievousness…under one … [ Read More ]
Philosophy
Bentham, Jeremy
ENGLISH PHILOSOPHER; ONE OF THE CHIEF EXPOUNDERS OF UTILITARIANISM; NOTED JURIST AND AUTHOR OF INTRODUCTION TO THE “PRINCIPLES OF MORALS AND LEGISLATION” English philosopher; one of the chief expounders of utilitarianism; noted jurist and author of Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Autograph Manuscript, full page, legal folio, undated, [December 28, 1820.] … [ Read More ]
Hume, David
Scottish empiricist philosopher historian, economist, and essayist; deeply influenced metaphysical thought. Autograph Check Signed, one page, narrow oblong octavo, Bath, June 8, 1776. Drawn on Thomas Coutts & Co., London and made out to dramatist John Home in the amount of fifty pounds. David Hume, the major figure of the Enlightenment, wrote this rare check … [ Read More ]
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm von
German philosopher and mathematician. Autograph Document Signed, GWvLeibniz, one page, oblong octavo, Wolfenbüttel, November 13, 1709. Leibniz acknowledges his receipt of payment of 200 thalers, his salary as librarian to the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg for the half-year ending at Michaelmas. Matted in cream and dark brown, with a waist-length portait engraving of Gottfried Wilhelm von … [ Read More ]
Mill, John Stuart
JOHN STUART MILLS. English philosopher and economist; created profound impression with System of Logic. Autograph Letter Signed, J.S. Mill, two pages, octavo, Blackheath Park, April 18, 1866. To Charles J. Grece, with original envelope. Though in your letter of the 16th inst. you do not claim me as an acquaintance, I have not forgotten … [ Read More ]
Niebuhr, Reinhold
REINHOLD NIEBUHR. American theologian who had extensive influence on political thought. Typewritten Letter Signed, RNeibuhr, one page, quarto, September 22, [1943]. A tribute letter to Walter White commemorating his 25 years of service to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “You have given a quarter of a century to the struggle of … [ Read More ]
Spencer, Herbert
HERBERT SPENCER. English philosopher; one of the few modern thinkers to attempt a systematic account of all cosmic phenomena, including mental and social principles; influenced contemporary philosophy, psychology, and ethics throughout Europe and America, India and Japan. Collection of 63 letters (the majority of which are signed by Spencer), and a signed check; various sizes; … [ Read More ]
Thoreau, Henry David
American essayist, poet and naturalist; wrote Walden. Autograph Manuscript, two full pages, quarto, undated [1854]. “As we grow old we live more coarsely, we relax a little in the disciplines, and to some extent cease to obey our first instincts. We are more careless about our diet & our chastity. But we would be fastidious … [ Read More ]