Works of John Locke

Locke, John. The Works of John Locke Esq., in Three Volumes. London: Printed for John Churchill at the Black Swan in Pater-noster-Row, and Sam. Manship at the Ship in Cornhil., 1714.

First edition, 3 volumes, folio.

"In 1714, ten years after Locke's death, his executor Peter King and his publisher John Churchill brought out an edition of his works. The three handsome folio volumes contained the works which Locke had acknowledged during his lifetime--An essay concerning human understanding and its defenses against Stillingfleet, the papers on money, and Several thoughts concerning education. In addition, they also included several works which Locke had only acknowledged in his will and which therefore appeared for teh first time under his name--Two treatises of government, the letters on toleration, The reasonableness of Christianity and its vindications. Finally there were the posthumous pieces--Paraphrase and notes on the Epistles of St. Paul, Posthomous works and Some familiar letters. The collected edition was apparently a successful venture. For over a century successive editions appeared."

Place in Wythe's Library

Listed on the Jefferson Inventory as Locke’s works. 3.v. fol. and given by Thomas Jefferson to his son-in-law Thomas Mann Randolph. Later appears on Randolph's 1832 estate inventory as 'Locke's Works' (2 vols., $10.00 value). We cannot determine the precise edition Wythe owned from the information available. Three-volume folio editions were published in 1714, 1722, 1727, 1740, 1751, and 1759.

Wythe quoted Locke's works multiple times in his case reports.

The Wolf Law Library's copy

The Wolf Law Library's copy is bound in the original panelled calf with rules and ornaments, rebacked in period style with raised panels and gilt lettering. Volumes 1 and 2 have the signature of an early owner, Thos. Parker Tubs Nile. and the bookplate of an 18th century literary society on the front pastedown. Volume 3 has owner's name, Genl. Whitmore, on front free endpaper. Some wear to corners and edges. Purchased from the George S. MacManus Company.

References