[PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT]. MILLAR, John (1735-1801). Observations concerning the Distinction of Ranks in Society... London: W. and J. Richardson for John

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Summer Fine Books & Manuscripts

By Potter & Potter Auctions

Jul 9, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-07-09 11:00:00 2026-07-09 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Summer Fine Books & Manuscripts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/potter-potter/summer-fine-books-manuscripts-22825
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• Lot Description

  [PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT]. MILLAR, John (1735-1801). Observations concerning the Distinction of Ranks in Society. Under the following heads: I. Of the Rank and Condition of Women in different Ages. II. Of the Jurisdiction and Authority of a Father over his Children. III. Of the Authority of a Chief over the Members of a Tribe or Village. IV. Of the Power of a Sovereign over an extensive Society. V. Of the Authority of a Master over his Servants. London: W. and J. Richardson for John Murray, 1773. 8vo. [4], xxii, 312 pp. Half-title present. Contemporary full polished calf. Gilt-ruled spine with red morocco label. SECOND EDITION, GREATLY ENLARGED. 

  Condition

  Binding worn, scuffed, joints starting, ffep. loose but present, rear blank apparently missing, some marginal offsetting to endleaves and first few and last few leaves, text a bit toned with some occasional soiling. Good. 

• Provenance

  The present work "contains a number of ingenious, progressive and penetrating ideas. It begins with the history of the station of women. Millar was by no means a primitivist, but he points out the equal and qualified station of women in primitive societies, thus making him a precursor of Bachofen. The advancement of civilization or the progress of labour and wealth, had formerly served to reduce the station of women, but since feudal times the progress of commerce had served to raise women once again; now, he notes, women seem sometimes to have become degenerate, thanks to wealth. He finds the same trend in the station of children. Millar supported the abolition of slavery and servile labour, which commercial society could now afford to eliminate, and showed a special interest in the improvement of working conditions for the salters and colliers in Scotland. He supported American independence and the liberty of France... He was not so much a democrat as an apostle of the liberation of the oppressed" (Hideo Tanaka in Dictionary of Eighteenth-Century British Philosophers). "This book shows the influence of Montesquieu, and especially of Hume, whose essay on 'The Populousness of Ancient Nations' is similar in design..." (Chuo 161, listing a later edition.) Kress 6952.

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