Hobbs's Tripos, In Three Discourses: The First, Humane Nature, Or The Fundamental Elements Of Policy. Being A Discovery Of The Faculties, Acts And Passions Of The Soul Of Man, From Their Original Causes, According To Such Philosophical Principles As Are Not Commonly Known, Or Asserted. The Second, De Corpore Politico. Or The Elements Of Law, Moral And Politick, With Discourses Upon Several Heads, As Of The Law Of Nature, Oaths And Covenants; Several Kinds Of Governments, With The Changes And Revolutions Of Them. The Third, Of Liberty And Necessity; Wherein All Controversie, Concerning Predestination, Election, Free-Will, Grace, Merits, Reprobation, Is Fully Decided And Cleared. Hobbes, Thomas.

First collected edition, including the two texts forming The Elements of Law, together with Of Libertie and Necessitie. The register and pagination is continuous. The Elements of Law, a strong defence of royal authority, was originally published in 1650 in two parts - Humane Nature and De Corpore Politico. These focus on human psychology and the origins of the state respectively, and foreshadow many of the arguments in Leviathan (1651), including the indivisibility of sovereignty. These works were circulated in manuscript form in 1640 and established Hobbes's reputation as an apologist for royal absolutism. The Long Parliament's attack of these ideas caused him to flee to Paris, where he remained until 1652. Of Libertie and Necessitie, originally published in 1654, developed from a heated debate with John Bramhall, bishop of Derry, in Paris in 1645. The work outlines Hobbes's position on free will and so is thematically closer to Humane Nature. This edition is rather confusingly called "The Third Edition" on the title page. Provenance: Douglas Cleverdon (1903-1987), broadcaster and bookseller, with his bookplate on the front pastedown. Macdonald & Hargreaves 103; Wing H2266. Octavo (179 x 109 mm). Contemporary calf, spine and covers panelled in blind, raised bands. Bound without initial blank. Engraved head- and tailpieces, divisional titles, title page ruled in red. Recent bookplate of the Fox Pointe Collection to rear pastedown. The name "Ash" written in small letters on the upper outer corner of front free endpaper. Joints and extremities neatly restored. Light bumping, minor browning and foxing to endpapers and contents, lower outer corner of front free endpaper torn away, two small chips to outer margin of title page [Humane Nature]: a very good copy.