An Essay concerning Humane Understanding. - photo 1

An Essay concerning Humane Understanding.

Lot 112
05.02.2026 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1540360
Lot 112 | An Essay concerning Humane Understanding.
Estimate value
$ 12 000 – 18 000
[LOCKE, John (1632-1704)]. An Essay concerning Humane Understanding. In four books. London: Elizabeth Holt for Thomas Basset, 1690.

First edition, first issue, with Elizabeth Holt imprint. “Few books in the literature of philosophy have so widely represented the spirit of the age and country in which they appeared, or have so influenced opinion afterwards as Locke’s Essay concerning Human [sic] Understanding. The art of education, political thought, theology and philosophy, especially in Britain, France and America, long bore the stamp fo the Essay, or of reaction against it” (Grolier).

Although begun as early as 1671, it was finally brought to order during the years that Locke spent as an exile in Holland (January 1684-February 1688), in the company of a distinguished literary circle. In Book I he rejected the doctrine of "innate idea", maintaining that all knowledge was based on experience. It would form the basis of 18th-century empirical philosophy, leading John Stuart Mill to describe Locke as "the unquestioned founder of the analytic philosophy of mind." Grolier English 36; Norman 1380; Pforzheimer 600; PMM 164; Wing L-2738.

Folio (312 x 184mm). Title within printed double-ruled border. (First and last three leaves, including title, nearly reinforced on outer edges, washed and with scattered other edge repairs, repaired wormtrail near running header in gatherings X-Z, 2N-2P and catching several letters on about three leaves in Y gathering.) Modern full red morocco gilt to style.
Place of origin:England
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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22.01.2026 – 05.02.2026
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