Prolegomena zu einer jeden künftigen Metaphysik,
die als Wissenschaft wird austretet können.
Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1783 Stock Code: 143861
First edition, second issue, the same year as the first, with the angel vignette headpiece on p. 3, and the staff-and-vine tailpiece on p. 222. Kant wrote his Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics as a clarification of the Critique of Pure Reason, which he believed to had been widely misunderstood on publication two years previously. It became one of Kant's most influential works and he incorporated much of it into the second edition of the Critique, itself now accepted as "Kant's great achievement which concluded finally the lines on which philosophical speculation had proceeded in the eighteenth century" (PMM 226). An attractively bound copy of this highly important work, with an interesting Hungarian provenance.
Description
Octavo (202 x 114 mm). Contemporary half roan, paper sides with simulated tree calf pattern, raised bands to spine forming compartments, tan morocco letterpiece to second, remaining compartments with fleurons enclosed by stylised rules gilt, all edges red, pastedowns decoratively hand-printed with floral pattern in red and green.
Illustrations
Woodcut vignette title-page, headpiece and tailpiece, floral running-heads.
Condition
From the library of the Piarist gymnasium in Vac, Hungary, with "Bibliothecae Vaciensis Sch. Piarum 1804" inked to title-page, discreet ink-stamp to verso, printed library label in Hungarian to front pastedown above recent monogram bookplate, pencilled manuscript shelfmark corrected in ink to front free endpaper with contemporary inked ownership inscription of one P. Alexü Szenczy to verso. Short (25 mm) crack to head of front joint, small hole to head of rear, tips bumped and worn, sides a little rubbed with a few small marks, contents toned as usual. A very good copy.
Bibliography
Warda 76.
DELIVERY
With the exception of framed items*, Peter Harrington offers free delivery on all UK orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website. Delivery to USA and the rest of the world is similarly free for orders over £200.
ABOUT US
Established in 1969, Peter Harrington is one of the leading rare book firms in the world. It is a proud member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association – along with ILAB, the PBFA and Lapada – and from shops in Mayfair and Chelsea, London, sells rare books, prints and ephemera to customers across the world.
Email: mail@peterharrington.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7591 0220