Edmund Burke

Scarce Early Printing: "An Account of the European Settlement in America in 6 Parts..."
Books

Early printing of Edmund Burke's seminal work. An account of the European settlements in America in six parts, bound in two volumes. (London: printed for R. And J. Dodsley, Pall Mall, 1758). Second Edition printed ?with improvements," and comprising two volumes. Hardbound calf, 12mo (7.75? x 5 25?), Volume I: 324pp, Volume II, 308pp., both with folding frontispiece map of South America and North America. Continental speckled calf, spines in six compartments divided by gilt-edged rules, volume numbers in gilt to third compartments. Binding slightly loose in both volumes, with slight splitting at covers, end pages bear significant offsetting, as do boards, interior pages evenly toned, while boards also bear edge wear, bumping and loss to gilt accents on spine. The map in Volume I bears significant loss at lower left corner, approximating 1/4 of page when opened, while map in Volume II exhibits creasing at edge. Ownership signature of "Robert Jenkins" appears on the half-title page of volume II. Still good.

Part I. A short History of the Discovery of that Part of the World. Part II. The Manners and Customs of the original Inhabitants. Part III. Of the Spanish Settlements. Part IV. Of the Portuguese. Part V. Of the French, Dutch, and Danish. Part VI. Of the English.? Each Part contains an accurate description of the settlements within it; their Extent, Climate, Productions, Trade, Genius and Disposition of their Inhabitants: the Interests of the several Powers of Europe with respect to those Settlements; and their Political and Commercial Views with regard to each other.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) was widely known as a social philosopher whose works attempted to bridge the ideological differences between conformity within a social context with rebellion and the right to self-determination. He is best-remembered for his satirical work ?A Vindication of Natural Society? and commentaries upon the French Revolution. It is thought that Burke sought to discredit Jean-Jacques Rousseau?s notion of a pre-civil society promulgated within ?The Social Contract? but the consistencies within the two thinkers? beliefs has been overlooked. Indeed, both ?natural-right doctrines but had difficulty disengaging from the idiom of that school?? according to David Cameron (?The Social Thought of Burke and Rousseau?). Further, the Burkean notion of ?civilization? as promulgated in this volume shares much in its descriptions of ?natural? American subjects and landscapes with Rousseau?s concept of ?l?homme sauvage,? making this volume an excellent counterpart to Rousseau?s body of work.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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7.75" x 5.25"