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This is Volume II of the two-volume first printing of the philosopher George Berkeley’s defence of (non-catholic) christianity Alciphron: or, the Minute Philisopher in Seven Dialogues. Containing and Apology for the Christian Religion, against Those who are called Free-Thinkers (358 numbered pages). This first printing has the sixth and seventh dialogues, plus Berkeley’s An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision.
The full leather cover (app. 5.25″ x 8″) is worn, with cracks at the hinges, extensive loss of surface material, shallow edge wear, and bumps to the outside corners. Front and back covers are attached. The spine, with 5 raised bands, is straight, securely connected, and with faded but legible gilt.
The front inside cover has minimal residue from an attachment. The title page has three indications of previous owners: a partly legible library stamp (Bibliothèque publique de la Ville B???); the faded residue of a doctor’s red stamp; the blue ink word Double, followed by more faded lettering. The only other stamp I’ve found is a second ink stamp from the above library, at the bottom of a text page.
There is no writing, nor are there other notations throughout the book. The other notable flaw is an ink stain to the upper outside corner of the last group of pages (see photos). This doesn’t extend into the text, all of which is unfaded, unstained, and clearly legible. The binding is uniformly tight.
