Leviathan
16.10.2025 10:00UTC +01:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'SAuctioneer | CHRISTIE'S |
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Event location | United Kingdom, London |
Buyer Premium | see on Website% |
ID 1472001
Lot 78 | Leviathan
Estimate value
10000USD $ 10 000 – 15 000
The first edition, first issue, with head ornament on title-page. Hobbes's landmark work "produced a fermentation in English thought not surpassed until the advent of Darwinism" (Pforzheimer). It unleashed a storm of controversy and was in such demand that when Pepys wished to buy a copy, he had to buy it second-hand and pay almost four times the original published price. MacDonald and Hargreaves 42, Pforzheimer 491, PMM 138.
Folio (278 x 180mm). Engraved frontispiece, folding plate (light intermittent dampstain/soiling at margins; a few gatherings with minor worming at lower margin; two leaves with repaired tears, one marginal and one 70mm grazing about eight words). Contemporary blind-ruled calf (some scuffing, old spine label, without pastedowns, front endpaper torn with 50mm loss at top). Provenance: Duff (early ownership inscription to title) – John McDonald (early ownership inscriptions and pen trials/notations on endpapers) – Hugh Percy (bookplate).
Place of origin: | England |
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Auction house category: | Printed books |
Place of origin: | England |
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Auction house category: | Printed books |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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Preview |
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Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
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