Books

Rare first edition of Locke's first separately published work, his Letter on Toleration, in which he advocates the separation of church and state. "In winter 1685–6 Locke interrupted his labours on the Essay to write another, shorter work. Louis XIV had revoked the edict of Nantes in October, removing the last remnants of toleration for the French Protestants. The Epistola de tolerantia was written after Locke returned from Cleves about the beginning of November. It was addressed to Limborch, who kept the manuscript and subsequently arranged for it to be printed. The Latin text was published anonymously at Gouda in April 1689, two months after Locke had returned to England. The Epistola develops further the theory of toleration already put forward in the 'Essay Concerning Toleration' of 1667 [written in 1667, but not published until 1876]. Locke advocated the complete separation of church and state: states exist only to preserve their members' civil goods; churches are purely voluntary societies which are allowed to exercise discipline over their members, but which anyone can leave at any time without incurring any civil disabilities. Complete toleration should be given to every religious body whose doctrines are neither incompatible with civil society nor require their adherents to give allegiance to a foreign prince" (ODNB). Attig 41; Christophersen, pp. 13-15; Harrison & Laslett 2941; Yolton 1. WorldCat and Yolton together locate only 24 copies worldwide. Duodecimo (130 x 75 mm). Recent full vellum to style by James Brockman, manuscript lettering to spine. Housed in a black quarter morocco solander box. Printer's ornament on title-page. Short horizontal split to head of title-page repaired. A very good copy.