Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty and Additional Observations
Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty and Additional Observations
By: Richard Price
- Collection ID
- PBK.002291.1-.2
- Type
- Printed Book
- Date
- 1776/1777
- Geography
- England
- Language
- English
- Medium
- Printed on paper
- Dimensions
- 9 × 5.8 × .75 in. (22.9 × 14.7 × 1.9 cm) and 9 × 5.5 × 1 in. (22.9 × 14 × 2.5 cm)
- Exhibit Location
- Not on View
Richard Price’s (1723–1791) Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty was a popular political treatise arguing in support of American independence. Price was a British minister, philosopher, and economist who believed in the right to self-government, supporting the American cause in the debate over taxation and representation. In this treatise, he speculates that Americans could very well establish “a plan of government…that shall astonish the world” and offer “friends of Liberty, in every quarter of the globe a safe retreat from civil and spiritual tyranny.” The treatise was reprinted more than 30 times in Europe and the American colonies. A year later, he would write another treatise under the title, “Additional Observations on the Nature and Value of Civil Liberty.” These copies are first editions.
Richard Price’s (1723–1791) Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty was a popular political treatise arguing in support of American independence. Price was a British minister, philosopher, and economist who believed in the right to self-government, supporting the American cause in the debate over taxation and representation. In this treatise, he speculates that Americans could very well establish “a plan of government…that shall astonish the world” and offer “friends of Liberty, in every quarter of the globe a safe retreat from civil and spiritual tyranny.” The treatise was reprinted more than 30 times in Europe and the American colonies. A year later, he would write another treatise under the title, “Additional Observations on the Nature and Value of Civil Liberty.” These copies are first editions.
Printed in 1776 by Thomas Cadell, London, England. Acquired by John Howell Books, unknown location.[1] Acquired by “W. H. Jr.,” unknown location.[2] Acquired by 2013 by Ira Lipman, private collector, New York City, New York; Purchased at auction in 2013 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.[3]
Notes: [1] John Howell Books is inscribed on the rear pastedown. [2] A bookplate with the name “W. H. Jr.” is located on the front pastedown. However, this person’s identity is unknown at this time. [3] Lipman sold his collection, including these texts, at Sotheby’s (New York) in 2013. See Sotheby’s, The Library of a Distinguished American Book Collector (New York), June 4, 2013, Lot 128.
Printed in 1776 by Thomas Cadell, London, England. Acquired by John Howell Books, unknown location.[1] Acquired by “W. H. Jr.,” unknown location.[2] Acquired by 2013 by Ira Lipman, private collector, New York City, New York; Purchased at auction in 2013 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.[3]
Notes: [1] John Howell Books is inscribed on the rear pastedown. [2] A bookplate with the name “W. H. Jr.” is located on the front pastedown. However, this person’s identity is unknown at this time. [3] Lipman sold his collection, including these texts, at Sotheby’s (New York) in 2013. See Sotheby’s, The Library of a Distinguished American Book Collector (New York), June 4, 2013, Lot 128.
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