Spinoza Baruch.ABAA
B.d.S. opera posthuma
16776323Amsterdam: Jan Rieuwertsz 1677. Very Good/First edition of Spinoza's most influential philosophical work "Ethics" in which the philosopher bridged the Cartesian duality of body and spirit by maintaining that the universe including God constitutes a unified infinite and all-inclusive "Substance" of which corporeality and spirituality were merely attributes -- a unity expressed in the controversial phrase "Deus sive Natura" God or Nature. Ethics is thus considered the first systematic exposition of pantheism the philosophy in which God is identified with the entire universe' Norman. Contents also include first printings of his correspondence some of which deals with optics the telescope and his views on Descartes and a simple Hebrew grammar composed at the request of friends. Quarto 21 cm; 40 614 34 112 8 pages. Woodcut device on title page; tail-pieces; initials. Woodcut diagrams and illustrations in text. Text mostly in Latin some translated from Dutch and some in Hebrew. Contents: I. Ethica more geometrico demonstrata -- II. Politica -- III. De emendatione intellectus -- IV. Epistolae & ad eas responsiones -- V. Compendium grammatices linguae Hebraeae. Full golden brown calf tooled in blind with border rules and panel rules enclosing small tooled fleurons larger vegetal ornaments at corners of panel extending out toward the edges. Subtly rebacked. Speckled edges. Old ownership inscription on title page of "T. Lynford" possibly Thomas Lynford d. 1724 a British divine once canon of Westminster Abbey. Title page slightly browned at edges but otherwise an unmarred copy in excellent condition! Reference: Norman 1988; see also PMM 153 "The 'Opera posthuma' . have served then and since . to immortalize his name." Jan Rieuwertsz unknown books
