An Enquiry concerning Political Justice,: and its influence on General Virtue and Happiness.

London: G. G. J. and J. Robinson,, 1793. Founding philosophical anarchism First edition of one of the most radical and far-reaching books of the years of revolution at the end of the 18th century, widely seen as the foundation of philosophical anarchism. Published just weeks after the execution of Louis XVI, Godwin's tract attacks all restraints on the exercise of individual judgement - in the belief that human opinions will become progressively more enlightened with the growth of knowledge. Among Godwin's targets were established religion and marriage, and he believed that government itself would ultimately become redundant. The book still speaks today for its eloquent defence of human liberty, but its contemporary influence was profound and lasting. Godwin, for all his lack of worldly success, was the epicentre of English radicalism. He subsequently married the most discussed, admired, criticized, and mythologized feminist intellectual in history, Mary Wollstonecraft; inspired and infuriated Percy Bysshe Shelley, who bankrolled him, then eloped with his daughter Mary, future author of Frankenstein; and published, among many others, Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare and works illustrated by William Blake. As a text Political Justice had one hugely influential if contrary result: it directly inspired Malthus to formulate his Essay on Population. Two volumes, quarto (279 x 219 mm). Recent sprinkled calf, spines ruled gilt, red and green morocco labels, sprinkled edges. Complete with the half-titles and the final errata leaf. Embossed library blindstamps to titles, shelf mark in ink to versos. Covers a little scuffed, two leaves with closed tears repaired with archival tape, another with a short marginal tear; a good, clean copy. Hazlitt, The Free Man's Library, p. 77; Printing and the Mind of Man 243; Rothschild 1016.