5.25" H x 3.25" W
Written In English
This 1825 edition of A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful by Edmund Burke is a beautifully bound and intellectually important work in the world of art, literature, and design. First published in 1757, Burke's writing explores how beauty and the sublime affect us differently, laying the foundation for the Romantic movement and shaping how we think about emotion, contrast, and sensory experience. This edition was printed by C. & C. Whittingham in Chiswick and features a finely engraved frontispiece depicting a classical allegorical figure with cherubs beneath a rainbow. The binding itself is a showstopper: full polished olive-toned calf leather with richly tooled gilt borders and delicate gilt leaf corner motifs on both boards. The spine is intricately decorated with gilt floral tooling and features a black leather title label reading “Burke on Sublime.” Marbled endpapers, decorative gilt dentelles, and a tight, elegant presentation make this book just as beautiful to display as it is to read. Burke’s reflections on aesthetics remain relevant today and offer insight into the emotional power of art, architecture, and design. Whether you’re a collector, decorator, or simply love antique books with depth and beauty, this volume is both meaningful and stunning.
Condition:
This 1825 volume is in very good condition for its age, with a sound and tight binding and exceptional decorative appeal. The leather boards are well preserved with gilt tooling still crisp, though there is a darkened area of staining on the front cover. The corners show minor wear, and the spine remains strong and richly decorated with bright gilt floral compartments. Inside, there is expected age-toning and light foxing, particularly on the preliminary pages and around the engraved frontispiece. The marbled endpapers are intact, and all pages are firmly bound. Overall, this is a handsome and collectible early 19th-century philosophical work in a richly embellished period binding that presents beautifully.
