Apr 11, 2025 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
16
Franklin's edition of Johnson's Elementa philosophica
JOHNSON, SAMUEL
[Elementa philosophica: containing chiefly, Noetica, or things relating to the mind or understanding: and Ethica, or things relating to the moral behaviour]. Comprising Noetica: or, the First Principles of Human Knowledge; and Ethica: Or the First Principles of Moral Philosophy... Philadelphia: B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1752. First Franklin edition; the Ethica noted as the second edition, as usual. Period brown sheep ruled in blind. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches (19 x 12 cm); viii, [2], ix-xxiv, 103, [3], vii, [1], 103,[1] pp.; the general title π1 not present. The binding worn, rubbed, head and foot of the spine chipped; lacking the first leaf (the general title), but with both the section titles (which bear full imprints); tear to the corner of b1 into the text, without significant loss; typical toning and age spotting throughout. Ownership indications of various generations of the Ressiquie and Denton families.
This is the first edition of Johnson's Noetica, and the reprint of his Ethica (in an enlarged form), both printed by Franklin and Hall. Together (these were issued under a general title, not present here, as noted by Miller 554), they comprise the first textbook in moral philosophy written in the Colonies. Miller records that Franklin indicated that 500 copies had been printed.
Johnson, a minister of the Church of England in colonial Connecticut, "was a somewhat voluminous writer, mainly on philosophy, although only a few of his writings were published in his lifetime. Owing partly to contemporary conditions in both England and America, Johnson did not receive the attention to which his thought and work entitle him ... He did good and original work in harmonizing certain of the philosophical systems of the day. He ranks with Jonathan Edwards as one of the two most important exponents of idealistic philosophy in colonial America." DAB V.
Sold for $1,664
Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
JOHNSON, SAMUEL
[Elementa philosophica: containing chiefly, Noetica, or things relating to the mind or understanding: and Ethica, or things relating to the moral behaviour]. Comprising Noetica: or, the First Principles of Human Knowledge; and Ethica: Or the First Principles of Moral Philosophy... Philadelphia: B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1752. First Franklin edition; the Ethica noted as the second edition, as usual. Period brown sheep ruled in blind. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches (19 x 12 cm); viii, [2], ix-xxiv, 103, [3], vii, [1], 103,[1] pp.; the general title π1 not present. The binding worn, rubbed, head and foot of the spine chipped; lacking the first leaf (the general title), but with both the section titles (which bear full imprints); tear to the corner of b1 into the text, without significant loss; typical toning and age spotting throughout. Ownership indications of various generations of the Ressiquie and Denton families.
This is the first edition of Johnson's Noetica, and the reprint of his Ethica (in an enlarged form), both printed by Franklin and Hall. Together (these were issued under a general title, not present here, as noted by Miller 554), they comprise the first textbook in moral philosophy written in the Colonies. Miller records that Franklin indicated that 500 copies had been printed.
Johnson, a minister of the Church of England in colonial Connecticut, "was a somewhat voluminous writer, mainly on philosophy, although only a few of his writings were published in his lifetime. Owing partly to contemporary conditions in both England and America, Johnson did not receive the attention to which his thought and work entitle him ... He did good and original work in harmonizing certain of the philosophical systems of the day. He ranks with Jonathan Edwards as one of the two most important exponents of idealistic philosophy in colonial America." DAB V.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 11, 2025
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 11, 2025
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The Latin Grammar of Toulouse-Lautrec, Illustrated with Hundreds of Small Drawings Tops $70k
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We Invite You to Contact Us for a Complimentary Auction Evaluation of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle presented an auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 10am. The sale included an extensive collection of illustrated books and fine bindings, many from a private collection purchased at auction in the 1970s and off the market until the present time. Here are copies of the first edition of Nerciat’s erotic classic Le Diable au Corps, and an early and curiously illustrated edition of the exceedingly naughty Academie des Dames. From the same collection comes a splendid Levitzky binding with batik endpapers on a work illustrated by Georges Barbier, with an original watercolor by the master. Many finely bound sets are featured in the sale, most notably an exceptionally luxurious set of Charles Dickens, one of 15 copies bound in sixty volumes, in superb red levant morocco with onlays.
As usual, the sale included a selection of interesting maps and atlases, such as a copy of Turgot’s 1734 bird’s eye plan of Paris, and a finely colored celestial map by Andreas Cellarius. Additionally, there is a sizable group of globes and instruments in the auction, including a pair of 15-inch library globes and a 20-inch celestial globe by Cary, as well as three English pocket globes, a “dissected” paper globe, and a collection of rare pocket-sized navigational instruments and sundials, notably an exquisite 17th century silver “Butterfield” type sundial by the Parisian instrument maker Pierre Sevin.
One lot that bears special note is the Latin grammar owned by the young Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, used by him while studying for his baccalaureate examination. In this, the artist has penned hundreds of tiny ink sketches, ranging from studies of horses to caricatured faces. Toulouse-Lautrec was 16 to 17 years old at the time, and his genius was just starting to declare itself, evident in the precocious studies of horses in this work, which make the annotations far more compelling than mere juvenalia. (Read More)
Americana is highlighted by a career-spanning archive of letters of Major General Israel Bush Richardson (1815-1862), from his West Point days until his death at Antietam. (Read More). The range of early printing features a complete copy of Graevius’s great 1722 work on Venice, the Splendor Magnificentissimae Urbis Venetiarum Clarissimus with the two large folding plates of the city and all the double-page views of piazzas and palazzos.
The Collection of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford
Property from the Collection of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford offered approximately 75 lots of signed books and memorabilia relating to the political career of President Ford and watches, jewelry, and decorative items owned by and gifted to the Fords. Of note is Gerald Ford’s copy of the Official Report of the Warren Commission, of which he was a member, inscribed to him with appreciation from President Lyndon Johnson and each member of the commission. It was John “Jack” Ford who brought George Harrison to the White House, the first of the Beatles to visit, and offered in the sale are two inscribed books on Eastern thought. Of the jewelry, President Ford’s Omega and Piaget watches are offered, as is a sapphire ring that belonged to First Betty Ford. Among the gifts presented to the Fords on their world travels are jewelry items and keepsakes from Jordan and Oman, several in high karat gold. View Lots
Order of Sale
Lots 1–8 Sports and mountaineering
Lots 9–45 Americana
Lots 46–57 Travel
Lots 58–73 Maps and atlases, globes and instruments
Lots 74–114 Antiquarian books and manuscripts
Lots 115–120 Economics and the World Wars
Lots 121–163 Literature (including literary autographs)
Lots 164–178 Color plate books
Lots 179–189 Library sets
Lots 190–215 Fine bookbindings: English, French and Russian
Lots 216–220 Fore-edge paintings
Lots 221–233 Curiosa
Lots 234–249 Limited Editions Club
Lots 250–261 Private press and fine printing
Lots 262–276 Illustration and children's books
Lots 277–280 Applied Art
Lots 281–306 Books on Fine Art and Livres d'artistes
Lots 307–318 American autographs
Lots 319–340 American Presidential documents and signatures
Lots 340–End Property from the Collection of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford
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