Books

Folio. Second Edition. Pp. [40], 407, [13]. Engraved frontis portrait. Old calf binding, recently rebacked, raised bands, blind rules, gilt label, recornered with edges restored, endpapers renewed. Covers somewhat worn and scuffed with evidence of tape removal near joints, frontis and title a little dusty with scratched out ink signature on title, printing defect at pp. 199-200 (corner turned with some loss of type, supplied in ink script); overall, a nice clean copy, in a skilfully restored binding. The second edition of the Essay is particularly valued by scholars since it contains important changes and additions to the text, as well as adding a portrait. "It is Locke's second edition of the 'Essay on Human understanding' that is the masterpiece we remember; the first, 1690, edition did not bear Locke's name, nor did it include a number of emendations that finished the work as Locke wanted it." (Jack Matthews, Collecting Rare Books, p. 97).

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding is a work by John Locke concerning the foundation of human knowledge and understanding. It first appeared in 1690.