POSITIVISM

[William Walker Stephens, Edinburgh merchant and inventor.] Autograph Letter Signed to Frederic Harrison, presenting a copy of his book ‘Higher Life for Working People’, intended to counter ‘revolutionary “Socialism”’ and ‘Social mal-adjustments’.

Author: 
William Walker Stephens of Leith and Einburgh, Scottish merchant, mechanic and inventor
Publication details: 
22 May 1899; on letterhead of Rosehall Lodge, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh.
£60.00

See Harrison's entry in the Oxford DNB. Previous to the appearance in 1899 of ‘Higher Life for Working People’ Stephens had published a life of Turgot in 1895. Both appeared with the long-established London publishers Longmans. He was sole trustee of the soap manufacturers William Taylor & Co when it failed in 1883. He was also an inventor: in 1853 the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts noticed his patent relating to ‘retorts in gas-ovens’. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Twenty-five lines of text. In fair condition, lightly aged.

Autograph Card Signed from Frederic Harrison to Elbridge H. Goss of Melrose County, Massachusetts, regarding 'the President's fine message'. With two neatly-mounted photographs of Harrison, from magazines.

Author: 
Frederic Harrison (1831-1923), jurist, positivist and author [Elbridge H. Goss of Melrose County, Massachusetts]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Elm Hill, Hawkhurst. 18 October 1831.
£35.00

The card is in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, neatly and attractively tipped-in onto a 4to leaf which also carries a photograph of 'FREDERIC HARRISON' cut from a magazine, with both items placed within ruled borders. Laid down on a second 4to leaf, and also within a ruled border, is a second photograph of Harrison, captioned 'FREDERIC HARRISON | Author of "The Creed fo a Layman." (Apologia Pro Fide Mea).' Both photographs and mounts are in very good condition. The card is addressed to Goss at the Melrose Savings Bank, Melrose, Massachusetts.

Paper entitled 'DISCUSSION: (I) Philosophy Without Science'.

Author: 
Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel, Sir Alfred Jules Ayer; Herbert Dingle
Publication details: 
Reprinted from PHILOSOPHY, Vol. XXIII, No. 84, January 1948.'
£45.00

12 pages, octavo. Unbound. Folded once, down the centre, vertically. Good, though grubby, and with marks from paperclip. Each of the three contributes a section. PRESENTATION COPY, with slip from Samuel, on his notepaper '32, PORCHESTER TERRACE, W.2.' on which is typed 'WITH LORD SAMUEL'S COMPLIMENTS'.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Frederic Harrison
Publication details: 
14 October 1879; on letterhead '38, Westbourne Terrace, W.'
£45.00

English positivist philosopher (1831-1923). Two pages, 12mo. In poor condition: on discoloured paper with remains of stub still adhering along one edge, and with slight damage to blank verso of second leaf of bifoliate. He is obliged for the 'invitation to contribute to the pages of the International Review; & I only wish that it was in my power to accept it.' He has 'a limited amount of time for literary work' and cannot at present make 'any further engagement', but may do so in the future. Signed 'Frederic Harrison'.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Frederic Harrison
Publication details: 
29 September 1891; on letterhead 'London County Council. | Spring Gardens, S.W.' with the Council's 1889 oval crest.
£35.00

Author and positivist (1831-1923). 1 page, 16mo. In poor condition: grubby, creased and worn. Having returned to London 'after an absence of many months' he has found at the Athenaeum Club his correspondent's two letters. He is sorry for the delay: 'The Club has been closed for repairs & the letters were mislaid. It is quite out of my power to visit Bristol durinng the ensuing session.'

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