A Fine Collection of American Literature and History

Rare First American Edition of John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration

Boston: Printed and Sold by Rogers and Fowle, 1743. First American edition (third overall). 12mo. (3)-77 pp.; lacking half-title. Disbound; perforated stamp of the Forbes Library, Northhampton, Massachusetts at bottom of title-page and bottom of D2; scattered minor foxing to text; contemporary ownership signature of John Bowditch at head of title-page. Evans 5227; Sabin 41728; ESTC W19884

A rare first American edition of John Locke's classic treatise on religious tolerance, a text whose principles would become integral to religious freedom and the separation of church and state in the United States. The publication of this edition in Boston was the result of religious intolerance by the President and Governors of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut. As Evans explains, quoting John Trumbull's History of Connecticut: "The intolerant spirit of the president and governors of Yale College in regard to the observance of religious forms, at this time, determined a number of the senior class to reprint Locke's Essay of Toleration, and a considerable number of subscribers were obtained. The president learning of it, reprimanded them for their conduct, and ordered them to make a public confession, or else they should not have their degrees. All made the required confession but one. 'The day before commencement he found his name was not in the catalogue of his class, who were to have their degrees; he waited on the president and corporation to know the reason why his name was not in the catalogue: he was told that he had told that he had been in the mischievous business of carrying about subscriptions for the reprinting of Mr. Locke on toleration. He told them he was of age, and had property, and if he could not have his degree, he would appeal to the king in council...Some time after, a freshman was sent to him, acquainting him that the president and corporation wished to see him. He waited on them, and they treated him with much complaisance, and told him to appear with his class and take his degree.'"

We have not been able to locate a complete copy of this edition at auction since 1938, and this is the only copy sold since then.