HOBBES, Thomas (1588-1679). Leviathan; or The Matter, Forme, and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill. London: Andrew Crooke, 1651.

The first edition, first issue, with head ornament on title-page. Hobbes's landmark work "produced a fermentation in English thought not surpassed until the advent of Darwinism" (Pforzheimer). It unleashed a storm of controversy and was in such demand that when Pepys wished to buy a copy, he had to buy it second-hand and pay almost four times the original published price. MacDonald and Hargreaves 42, Pforzheimer 491, PMM 138.

Folio (278 x 180mm). Engraved frontispiece, folding plate (light intermittent dampstain/soiling at margins; a few gatherings with minor worming at lower margin; two leaves with repaired tears, one marginal and one 70mm grazing about eight words). Contemporary blind-ruled calf (some scuffing, old spine label, without pastedowns, front endpaper torn with 50mm loss at top). Provenance: Duff (early ownership inscription to title) – John McDonald (early ownership inscriptions and pen trials/notations on endpapers) – Hugh Percy (bookplate).