Some Familiar Letters between Mr. Locke, and Several of his Friends.

London: A. and J. Churchill,, 1708, 1697 & 1699. A handsome group of first editions of three separate works, bound uniformly, with identical early female ownership. They are numbered 1-3, in reverse date order, with the posthumous collection of 1708 coming first, followed by two of Locke's replies to Edward Stillingfleet in their pamphlet war over the theory of knowledge as related to the Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. With the neat ink ownership stamps of Philadelphia Frewen (1750-1841), of the Frewens of Northiam, Sussex, the independently minded great-granddaughter of the radical lawyer, Baptist preacher, astrologer and book-collector Samuel Jeake of Rye (1623-90). It has been presumed that Jeake's extensive library - "an extraordinary assemblage of about 2100 items which combined a remarkable holding of the radical pamphlets of the civil war and interregnum with learned works on a wide range of subjects, including an extensive selection of theological works as well as books on literature, law, mathematics, science, and magic" - passed virtually intact to his great-grand daughter, who it appears may have added to it. 3 vols, octavo (188 x 111 mm). Contemporary sprinkled calf, contrast tan morocco labels to the spine, blind panels to the sides, edges sprinkled red-brown. Second-named With terminal errata; third with half-title and two terminal advertisement leaves. Somewhat rubbed, particularly on the spines and at the edges, corners bumped, an old paper lot ticket to the spine of the first volume, mild tan-burn to the endpapers, light browning to the text-blocks, corner neatly torn from X4 in the last item, no loss of text; a little used, but with character, remaining very good ESTC T117287, Wing L2754, L2753. See Hunter et al, A Radical's Books: The Library Catalogue of Samuel Jeake of Rye, 1623-90.