"One of the intellectual giants of European philosophy"
By HOBBES, Thomas [and] BOSSE, Abraham , 1651
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Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill.

  • Author: HOBBES, Thomas [and] BOSSE, Abraham
  • Publication place: London:
  • Publisher: Printed for Andrew Crooke, at the Green Dragon in St. Pauls Church-yard,
  • Publication date: 1651.
  • Physical description: Folio (276 by 182mm), 1-248, 247-256, 261-396pp., the additional pictorial
    engraved title by Abraham Bosse (an excellent and strong impression), with manuscript signature in lower blank margin 'W. Best' [?] dated 1713, title with woodcut ornament with Head motif (indicating the first issue), folding table, errata list struck through in early ink on verso of A3, several leaves at front of volume with short early marginal notes mentioning Malebranche, occasional ink markings and underlining, short closed tear to lower blank margins of I1, 2S2, upper blank margin of 2T1 tiny rust hole to 2D4 affecting one letter of text, repaired closed tear to lower edge of 3B3 (without loss), further manuscript notes in Latin by the same annotator on rear flyleaf, light toning in the outer margins of a few leaves, nineteenth-century blind-ruled calf, rubbed, red morocco label, decorative ligatures in blind.
  • Inventory reference: 22063

Notes

First edition, first issue, of one of the very greatest books on political philosophy ever written.

Whether or not one agrees with Hobbes's theory of social contract, he is generally considered one of the founders of modern political philosophy. His 'Leviathan' (1651) contains one of the most remarkable frontispieces of any seventeenth century book, and much has been written on its significance. Designed by Abraham Bosse (c1604-1676), a French artist, in collaboration with the author, it is a striking representation of Hobbes's thinking on society and government.

Influenced by the turmoil of the Civil War, Hobbes developed his theory that only a strong and absolute sovereign could sustain peace. For this he appropriates the sea monster of the Old Testament as a unifying sovereign of church and state, towering over a birds'-eye view or "map" of an idealized European city state, replete with church spire, city walls, and town square. The sovereign sea monster wields the symbols of both state and church, the sword and crosier, reflected in the frame below: earthly power on the left, and the powers of the church on the right; castle to church, crown to mitre, cannon to excommunication, weapons to logic, and the battlefield to the religious courts.

The sovereign sea monster's body and arms are made up of the bodies of hundreds of people, all turning to look at him in allegiance, illustrating Hobbes's argument that: "A multitude of men, are made one person, when they are by one man, or one person, represented; so that it be done with the consent of every one of that multitude in particular. For it is the unity of the representer, not the unity of the represented, that maketh the person one… And if the representative consist of many men, the voyce of the greater number, must be considered as the voyce of them all" (Leviathan, Part 1, chapter 16).

Bibliography

  1. DSCBP
  2. Macdonald and Hargreaves, 42
  3. Pforzheimer, 491
  4. PMM, 138
  5. Wing, H2246.

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