Books

First edition, second issue, of Kant's celebrated essay Perpetual Peace. "The basis of practical pacifism is contained in Zum ewigen Frieden, 1795, which contains an outline of a world league of nations" (PMM). "It is unique among Kant's writings in that it was written for a wide public, and that its publication can be regarded as a political act" (Gallie, p. 8). Zum ewigen Frieden was an immediate success, quickly prompting a series of translations and counterfeit editions. The first edition sold out within a few weeks; the present copy has the lowercase catchword "welt:" on page 3, signifying the second issue, rather than the uppercase "Welt" seen in the first issue. Nicolovius published a second, revised edition in 1796, slightly extended from 104 to 112 pages by the addition of a second appendix. Octavo (173 x 98 mm). Contemporary buff paper-covered boards, smooth unlettered spine skilfully rebacked, edges red. Without the errata sheet at the end as often, but with the necessary corrections implemented in ink in a contemporary hand, including deleting and amending passages on pp. 9 and 21. Pierre Bergé book label on front pastedown, early ink ownership signature (L. Cauer) and stamp (M. Cauer) on facing endpaper, neat ink and pencil annotations. Corners discreetly restored, contents crisp, evenly browned, and occasionally spotted. A very good copy. Adickes 84; Printing and the Mind of Man 226; Warda 155. W. B. Gallie, Philosophers of Peace and War: Kant, Clausewitz, Marx, Engels, and Tolstoy, 1978.

Zum ewigen Frieden (To Eternal Peace) is a 1795 essay by Immanuel Kant in which he proposes the demand for a peaceful world order. The essay lays the normative foundations for a world of enduring peace, free of the conflicts and wars that had long plagued Europe.