A Treatise Concerning Eternal and Immutable Morality. - 1731

London: Printed for James and John Knapton,, 1731. In a superb cottage-roof binding First edition, in a particularly handsome example of an early Georgian cottage-roof style binding. Philosopher and theologian Ralph Cudworth (1617-1688) left the manuscript of the Treatise at his death, here published from the manuscript in the hands of his grandson, edited by the historian Edward Chandler. A leading figure among the Cambridge Platonists, Cudworth's works were directed against the doctrines of Thomas Hobbes. The Treatise argues, as put in the title, that morality is eternal and immutable, independent of any individual, as explored in Plato's Euthyphro. Octavo (224 x 134 mm). Contemporary red morocco, lavishly gilt in the cottage-roof style, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Engraved portrait frontispiece by David Loggan after George Vertue. Complete with terminal advertisement leaf. With the book label of bookseller and bibliographer John Stephens (1948-2006) to front pastedown, and early signature "John Buckland" to initial binder's blank. Spine lightly sunned, joints split but holding firm, tips worn, light offsetting to title page, afterwards clean save for very faint scattered foxing, light running bump at top fore edge; an excellent, wide-margined copy, splendidly bound. ESTC T140740.