Harrington, James | Harrington, James. First edition of one of the most important works of political philosophy

The Passion of American Collectors: Property of Barbara and Ira Lipman

Harrington, James

The Common-Wealth of Oceana. London: J. Streater for Livewell Chapman, 1656

Small folio (256 x 170 mm), title printed in black and red; browning and some spotting, lacking the portrait (as common), a few headlines just clipped, marginal ink notations in an early hand, stain to inner margin of Ff-Ii.  Eighteenth-century half calf over comb-marbled boards, dark-stained spine lettered and tooled in gilt; joints cracked, extremities a bit rubbed. Housed in a paper slipcase. 

First edition.

"Other than the Utopia [of Thomas More] this is perhaps the most famous attempt at envisioning a model commonwealth. It has been consulted at various times by those who have planned new states and commonwealths" (Pforzheimer). 

PROVENANCE

William Constable (Armorial Bookplate) — David and Lulu Borowitz (Booklabel: their sale, Sotheby's New York, 4 December 1978, Lot 109)

REFERENCE

Pforzheimer 449; Goldsmiths 1385