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. Humboldt, Wilhelm von.

Über das Entstehen der grammatischen Formen, und ihren Einfluss auf die Ideenentwicklung. (Gelesen in der Akademie der Wissenschaften am 17. Januar 1822).

Erste Ausgabe. Berlin, Druckerei der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1825. Quarto (22 cm x 26.5 cm). 29 Seiten plus Errata-Blatt (Seiten 401 – 430 des Jahrgangsbandes 1822-1823). Moderne Broschur mit eingebundener Originalabhandlung. Sehr guter Zustand. Es handelt sich hier um die seltene, originale Erstausgabe der Publikation. Extrahiert aus dem Sammelband der Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Der originalen Publikation wurde eine Replika des Reihentitels vorgebunden. [Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Aus den Jahren 1822 und 1823].

3. James, William / [Gibbens, Alice Howe].

The Energies of Men. [Personal copy of William James’ wife Alice Howe Gibbens – signed: “A.H.James”]. Stunning provenance of the First Edition-offprint from ‘The Philosophical Review’, Vol. XVI, No. 1, January, 1907, of William James’ Presidential Address to the American Philosophical Association on December 28th, 1906. A study of psychic energy ranging from Pierre Janet to Yoga to the “mind-cure” movement. James already is fascinated in this address about G.Papini’s “Doctrine of Action”, “the study of all human powers and means”.

1907. Octavo. 19 pages. Original Wrappers / Softcover. The wrappers detached and brittle. The pages stapled and in very good condition. James retired in January 1907 from Harvard. Possibly one of the rarest offprints with a William James-connection and with high probability, a gift from James to his wife. Books with the provenance of his wife never seem to surface on the market.

4. Paul, Leslie.

The Annihilation of Man. A Study of the Crisis in the West.

Third Impression. London, Faber and Faber Limited, 1945. 21cm x 13.5cm. 200 pages. Original Hardcover with protective Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Some textmarkings.

5. Popper, Karl R.

Das Elend des Historizismus.

3.Auflage, 1971. Tübingen, Mohr, 1971. 8°. XVI, 132 Seiten. Softcover / Kartoniert. Sehr guter Zustand mit nur geringen äusserlichen Gebrauchsspuren. KEINE Anstreichungen. KEIN Mängelexemplar. [Die Einheit der Gesellschaftswissenschaften ; Bd. 3]

6. Russell, Bertrand.

Collection of important publications by and on the British Philosopher Bertrand Russell [some of the publications from libraries of important philosophers like Quine]. The collection includes: 1. Bertrand Russell – War – The Offspring of Fear (First Edition – London, 1914) / 2. Bertrand Russell – Ideas that have harmed Mankind – Man’s Unfortunate Experience with his self-made enemies, including sadistic Impulses, Religion, Superstition, Envy, Economic Nationalism, Pride, Racism, Sex Superiority, Creeds and other evil things. (First Edition – Girard (Kansas), 1946) [From the library of Henry David Aiken] / 3. Bertrand Russell – Scientific Method in Philosophy (First Edition – Oxford, 1914) / 4. [Bertrand Russell] Paul Foulkes – Wisdom of the West (London, 1960) / 5. Bertrand Russell – The Analysis of Mind (London, 1951) / 6. Bertrand Russell – “Per Aspera ad Astra” (in: “Science and the Future of Mankind” – together with essays by Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer others, this copy used to belong to the library of Boston’s “Simmons College”) / 7. Ronald Jager – The Development of Bertrand Russell’s Philosophy [From the library of philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine (with inscription and signed by Jager to Quine)] / 8. Quine, Willard Van Orman / Heimpel, Carl G./ Wang, Hao – Symposium – Issue on Bertrand Russell by “The Journal of Philosophy”: ‘The Philosophy of Bertrand Russell’: Willard van Orman Quine – Russell’s Ontological Development / Carl G. Hempel – On Russell’s Phenomenological Constructionism / Hao Wang – Russell and Philosophy // A Historical Survey of Western Philosophy in its Social and Political Setting.

London / Oxford / Den Haag and others, Clarendon Press / Dr.Junk / Allen and Unwin / Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1914 – 1972. Original Hardcover and Softcover – Bindings. Only one publications iwth some minor damage, otherwise all publications in very good or even better condition with only minor signs of external wear.

7. Russell, Bertrand.

Wisdom of the West. A Historical Survey of Western Philosophy in its Social and Political Setting.

London, Macdonald & Co. Ltd, 1959. 21 cm x 28.2 cm. 320 pages. With black and white and colour illustrations. Original Hardcover. Very good+ condition with only minor signs of external wear.

8. Russell, Bertrand.

Wisdom of the West. A Historical Survey of Western Philosophy in its Social and Political Setting.

London, Macdonald & Co. Ltd, 1960. 21 cm x 28.2 cm. 320 pages. With black and white and colour illustrations. Original Hardcover. Very good+ condition with only minor signs of external wear. With only minor foxing to endpapers, pastedowns and edges. Minor rubbing to spine and corners. Otherwise interior bright and clean.

9. Saitta, Armando.

Critica Storia. Rivista Trimestrale. Diretta da Armando Saitta. 19 volumes in Total. 1985-1991 Anno XXII 1985 (2/3 – 2 volumes in 1 only) ; Anno XXIV – 1987/1 – 1987/4 (4 volumes complete) ; Anno XXV – 1988/1 – 1988/4. (4 volumes complete) ; Anno XXVI – (1 et 4 – 2 volumes only) ; Anno XXVII – 1990/1-1990/4 (4 volumes complete); Anno XXVIII – 1991/1 – 1991/4 (4 volumes complete).

19 volumes. Roma, Nella sede dell’Associazione degli Storici Europei, 1985-1991. 8°. c. 2600 pages. Softcover. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear. Some of the Volumes are still in original shrinkwrap from the publisher.

10. Toulmin, Stephen.

Manuscript Letter Signed to his friend, professor of Philosophy, Henry Aiken. The letter was sent from Sussex in England and includes information about Toulin’s latest book and his dedication to tirelessly writing together with his wife June Goodfield. June Goodfield has added to the letter as well by alerting Aiken and his wife of Stephen and her coming to Boston again.

Sussex / England, no year [c.July 1968 ?]. Octavo. Two pages. Softcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Corners torn and some fraying.