Renati Des Cartes Meditationes de Prima Philosopia, in Quibus Dei Existentia, & Animae Humanae a Corpore Distinctio, Demonstrantur. His Adjungitur Tractatus De Initiis Primae Philosophiae Juxta Fundamenta Clarissimi Cartesii, Tradita in Ipsius Meditation…

[viii], 230 pp. Last text page misnumbered 216. Descartes's fundamental and originating work of the modern era in Western philosophy, bound together with a work by one of the Utrecht Cartesians, Lambert van Velthuysen. This is the first British printing of the Meditations, though it does not include Descartes's 'Objections and Replies' as many editions do. Velthuysen was connected by marriage to Descartes's friend Henry Regnier, and corresponded with scientists and philosophers such as von Leeuenhoek, Spinoza, and Leibniz. The work included here shows the influence of Thomas Hobbes - unsurprising, given that Velthuysen is credited with translating Leviathan into Dutch. John Locke may have met Velthuysen while in Utrecht in 1684/85, and had eight titles by Velthuysen in his personal library, including the Rheims edition of the present title. Bound into this volume are two plates not called for in either work, which may be taken from the Hart printing of Principia Philosophia, which was published the same year. Wolf 736, Wing D1133a.