Vico (Giambattista) De nostri temporis studiorum ratione dissertatio, lacking final blank, Naples, Felice Mosca, 1709; De antiquissima Italorum sapientia ex linguae Latinae originibus eruenda libri tres, Naples, Felice Mosca, 1710; Risposta del Signor Giambattista di Vico nella quale si sciogliono tre gravi oppositioni fatte da dotto signore. Contra il primo libro De antiquissima italorum sapientia, &c., Naples, Felice Mosca, 1711; Risposta di Giambattista di Vico all'articolo x. del tomo viii. del Giornale de'letterati d'Italia, Naples, Felice Mosca, 1712, together 4 works in 1 vol., first editions, spotting or foxing, lightly browned, 19th century brown morocco-backed cloth, spine gilt, corners little worn, some spotting, rubbed, 12mo

⁂ An excellent sammelband of four rare first editions by this Italian philosopher, rhetorician, historian and jurist of the Italian Enlightenment, whose writings influenced Karl Marx and James Joyce. Included is Vico's great metaphysical essay 'On the ancient wisdom of the Italians', which is a refutation of the Rationalistic system of Descartes. The work prompted criticism and debate, and included here are two of Vico's replies, in which he clarifies and defends his views. The second of these replies actually takes a stronger stance against Descartes' methodology. Finally, we have the earliest of the works offered here ('De nostri temporis'), which compares classical and modern political thought and jurisprudence, and highlights what the two can learn from each other.