Thomas More - “Utopia” - Robert Foulis, Glasgow, First Edition - 1743

An important edition of "Utopia" by English statesman and philosopher Thomas More (1478 - 1535).

Published two books in one in 1743, in Glasgow by Robert Foulis, his first edition after the second translation of Utopia from Latin to English by the Bishop of Salisbury, Gilbert Burnet, published in London in 1684. First Foulis Edition. With a preface by Bishop Burnet, testimonies and a letter of Thomas More to Peter Giles.

The First Foulis Edition played an important role especially within the American Founding Fathers. For example, Thomas Jefferson’s library contained two copies of the work. He owned a copy of the original Latin work published in Cologne in 1555 and a copy of the Burnet English translation published by Robert Foulis in
Glasgow in 1743.

Robert Foulis was renowned during his age for the quality of its paper, typography and book design. Sadly, this particular book lacks the frontispiece - the mezzotint portrait after Holbein. But otherwise complete and with fine provenance.

Hardback, bound in contemporary calf. The leather rather worn at edges of covers. Upper left corner on front cover and upper right corner on back cover chipped. Lower left corner on front cover slightly chipped. Binding on spine worn. Spine cracked ca. 3 cm upper and lower at front cover.

Very good hinges inside. Bookplate with library and armorial bookplate with name of former owner to the front pastedown endpaper. Old ink inscription to front endpaper. Very small pencil inscriptions on pastedown back endpaper.

Printed on laid paper. Some damp stainings. Scattered stainings and browning, no foxing. Otherwise, unblemished and rather healthy pages.

XXIII + 140 pages, Dimensions - 18 x 11 cm.

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