Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects. In Four Volumes

London: A. Millar. Vol. 1: Containing Essays, Moral and Political. London: A. Millar; Edinburgh: A. Kincaid and A. Donaldson, 1753. Vol. II: Containing Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding. A. Millar, 1753. Vol.III: Containing an Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. A. Millar, 1753. Vol. IV: Containing Political Discourses. Edinburgh: A. Kincaid and A. Donaldson, 1753. Full contemporary calf with raised bands on the spine and label and gilt designs in the compartments. First Edition of the only collection of works issued by Hume himself. This edition was made up of re-set volumes previously issued with cancel titles, and where the cancel titles were not prepared in sufficient numbers, with original titles. Todd (p. 195) has indicated the following order of issue: Vol. I: "The Fourth Edition corrected, with Additions." Vol. II: "The Second Edition, with Additions and Corrections." Vol. III: No indication of edition. Vol. IV: "The Second Edition." This set corresponds exactly with the Todd list. Vol. III is a First Edition, Later State with L3 cancelled. Provenance: Bookplates in all volumes of William Constable, Esq., F.R.S. & F.A.S. Constable was a notable English lawyer whose collection included the items published in the following: An Exhibition of Paintings, Sculpture, Prints, Furniture, Books and Scientific Instruments, Collected during the Eighteenth Century by William Constable, Esq. of Burton Constable, East Riding. Also in Vol. I: The bookplate of notable collector Sydney Ross, from whom wel purchased the set. Hume is generally regarded as one of the most important philosophers to write in English. He called An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals "incomparably the best" of all his work. Remarkable condition, Very Good Plus. . Very Good. Hardcover. 1753.