Some familiar letters between Mr. Locke, and several of his friends. by Locke, John - 1708

London: A. & J. Churchill, 1708. 8vo (19 cm, 7.5"). [4], 540 pp.

First edition of the first official collection of Locke's letters: "Not only such civil and polite conversation as friendship produces among men of parts, learning and candour; but several matters relating to literature, and more particularly to Mr. Locke's notions, in his Essay concerning Human Understanding, and in some of his other works," p. iii. Both sides of the exchanges are present, with correspondents including William Molyneux, Thomas Molyneux, Richard Burridge, and Philipp van Limborch; a number of letters are in Latin, and a few in French.
    
    ESTC T117287; Pforzheimer 611. Period-style calf, covers framed and panelled in gilt rolls with gilt-stamped corner fleurons and central decoration, spine with with gilt-stamped leather title-label, gilt-ruled raised bands, and gilt-stamped compartment decorations. Title-page with early inked ownership inscription (William R. Williams) in upper outer corner; preface with early inked initials in upper corners, partially effaced, resulting in small holes to upper outer corner (touching two letters of text without obscuring sense). Occasional early inked corrections and annotations; partial topical index filling final blank. One leaf with short tear from upper margin not extending into text, another with portion of lower foremargin torn away just touching (but not really "affecting") print; scattered light smudges and a handful of pages with old marginal stains, ink-drop to fore-edge (closed) in Latin section, otherwise clean.