Books

First edition in book form of Hume's autobiography, written as he was approaching death and published posthumously. Hume was aware that there would be great public interest in his reflections facing death, given his record of scepticism towards religion. As of such, The Life is as much a manifesto for his philosophy as a piece of autobiography. The work was first published in the Scots Magazine in January 1777 and then in the present form in February 1777. An account of Hume's final days, written by his friend Adam Smith and sent to the publisher William Strahan in November 1776, is printed at the rear; Smith also contributed the preface. The first edition can be distinguished by the spelling "myself" on page 29; a reset second edition, superficially similar, has "himself". The Life is here bound between two other works: i) JENYNS, Soame. Disquisitions on Several Subjects. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1782. First edition of Jenyns's collection of philosophical essays, including "on cruelty to inferior animals" and "on government and civil liberty". ii) WARBURTON, William. A Rational Account of the Nature and End of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. London: printed for A. Millar, and J. and R. Tonson, 1761. First edition of this work on the doctrine of the sacraments by Warburton, bishop of Gloucester and religious controversialist. ESTC T5349; Jessop, p. 39; Todd 1777 (1); not in Tribe. Three works bound in a single vol. (see note), duodecimo (154 x 90 mm). Contemporary sprinkled calf, smooth spine with twin red morocco labels, gilt ornaments in compartments, double gilt border to covers, marbled endpapers, yellow edges. With portrait frontispiece. Ownership signature to front free endpaper verso: "Philip Jones 1865". Hume bound without initial advertisements and half-title. Other than minimal rubbing, an excellent, well-preserved copy.