1. Aiken, Henry David / John Rawls / Donald Davidson / Rudolf Carnap / Roderick M. Chisholm / Nelson Goodman / Raphael Demos and others.

Collection of manuscript material, offprints, association-copies and books from the library and personal collection of Professor Henry David Aiken, American Philosopher, specialist on Analytic Philosophy, Aesthetics, Ethics and Education at the Universities of Columbia, Harvard, Michigan and Brandeis. The collection reflects Aiken’s deep connections to the important postwar-period of great thinkers at American Universities like Harvard and Brandeis. Aiken was friends with John Rawls, Raphael Demos, Daniel Bell, Arnold Kaufman, Stephen Toulmin, Israel Scheffler. Aiken’s “Beloved teacher” and mentor was Ralph Barton Perry (see his dedication in “Predicament of the University”). More importantly, Aiken was accepted as scholar and friend around important thinkers like Willard Van Orman Quine, Alfred North Whitehead, Robert Nozick and John Rawls. The collection includes first edition offprints from nearly all of these mentioned, including the rare first appearance of John Rawls’ “Justice as Fairness” in its original wrappers-issue from 1957 [See on our website images under “Libraries & Collections”]. The collection also includes materials previously inscribed and gifted to fellow philosophers in Aiken’s circle of friends, now reunited with this Archive. [Please enquire for access to excellent photographs and descriptions to each title, included in this collection]. The collection includes for example the Proof of Aiken’s publication “The Predicament of the University” [Working-Title: “The Future of the University”] – This title is of great interest alone, with Aiken’s annotations. Also included is the first edition of Aiken’s personal copy of his Thesis for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts: “Hegel’s Philosophy of Fine Art – A Study with special reference to the Theory of Tragedy”. Among the collection are roughly 200 offprints, often with dedications and inscriptions to colleagues. [Each title is listed in detail, with images, on our website under “Libraries & Collections” (click on “Henry D. Aiken Collection”).

Harvard / Brandeis / Cambridge (Mass.) etc., c. 1935 – 1975. Octavo & Quarto. More than 2000 pages. Original Softcover / Stapled. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear.

2. O’Donnell, F.Hugh.

The Ruin of Education in Ireland and the Irish Fanar [including a chapter: “The Priestly Boycott and the Irish Language” and with an Appendix: “The Mind of the Jesuit Order To-Day on the Killing of Heretics and the Liberty of Peoples”].

London, David Nutt, 1902. Large Octavo (17 cm x 23 cm). XXIII, 202 pages. Hardcover / Original publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine and board. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear only.

3. O’Donnell, F.Hugh [Major George Bernard O’Connor / IRA].

The Ruin of Education in Ireland and the Irish Fanar [including a chapter: “The Priestly Boycott and the Irish Language” and with an Appendix: “The Mind of the Jesuit Order To-Day on the Killing of Heretics and the Liberty of Peoples”].

London, David Nutt, 1902. Large Octavo (17 cm x 23 cm). XXIII, 202 pages. Hardcover / Recently professionally restored. Modern half-leather-binding with dustjacket. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Some pages with some minor browning. From the library of Major George Bernard O’Connor, with his name “O’Connor” on titlepage and his Rochestown address (″Illane Roe, Rochestown, Co.Cork”, to endpaper). O’Connor, of the 6th Dragoons, was identified as spy and executed by the IRA on July 10th, 1921.

4. [Whyte’s School Dublin] / [Whyte, Samuel] / [Sheridan, Thomas].

Modern Education; or, An Attempt to Explain the Chief Causes and Effects of our Errours and Deficiencies in that Particular. With Practical Proposals for a Reformation. In the Course of which The Female Right to Literature is asserted ; The Supercilious Airs of Vain Pedants Exposed ; Their Wise Objections Exploded ; And the Trite Witticisms, Usual on the Question, Fairly Stated and Confuted : Clearly Demonstrating, That the Weakness and Depravity imputed to the Fair Sex, is wholly owing to our utter Neglect of their Minds ; and that the proper Cultivation of them is the First and Grand Principle of all Human Excellence, as well as of all our social and domestic Felicity. [Bound with: “Lectures On The Art of Reading ; First Part: Containing The Art of Reading Prose. By Thomas Sheridan, A.M., Author of Lectures on Elocution, British Education, &c.”].

First Edition. Dublin, Printed by R.Marchbank, Cole’s Alley, Castle-Street, 1775. Small-Octavo (11.2 cm wide x 17.2 cm high). Pagination: Whyte’s “Modern Education…” is bound to the rear of the Volume: 77 pages plus “Corrigenda” (complete” / Sheridan’s “Lecture on the Art of Reading – Part I” is bound at the start of the Volume: vii, (1), 213 pages plus 1 page “Advertisement” [of Whyte’s “English Grammar-School” in Dublin, Grafton-Street, No.75”]. Hardcover / Original, full 18th century leather with gilt ornament and new spine-label in the style of the 18th century. In protective Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Extremely scarce title !