A philosophical dictionary; from the French of m. de Voltaire. With additional notes, both critical and argumentative by Abner Kneeland. American stereotype edition
Boston: Printed and Published by J. Q. Adams, 1836. Leather Bound. Two volumes bound as one: frontis portrait tissue-guarded, lii, 408, 2 [light cardstock "Family Record" leaves], frontis (of family) with tissue, lii [repeated material], 416p., first edition recased in late 19thC red morocco gilt: a custom-bound production with pleasing spine titling, raised bands ruled and tooled gold, all edges fully gilded, sewn headbands, green endsheets overprinted gilt. Extremities are slightly abraded, a 3-inch split upper front joint, boards yawn somewhat. Within, textblock is quite sound; find original blanks faintly toned with flecks of soil, v.I foxing to portrait, occasional foxing in text, v.II frontis heavily foxed, some splashy foxing in text. A very good copy, pace the split, which in no way affects handling.
Kneeland, an intimate with Robert Dale Owen and Frances Wright, was a frequent contributor to their Free Enquirer. In 1831 he moved to Boston and established The Boston Investigator, one of the longest lived (1831-1904) freethought publications in the United States (See Brown & Stein p. 33); he was tried four times and eventually convicted for his writings in the Dec. 20, 1833 issue.
Cat.No: 194898
Price: $400.00