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The Anarchist Ideal and Other Essays
By R. M. Wenley
Richard G. Badger / The Gorham Press, Boston, 1913
First edition
Original blue cloth hardcover
274 pages
No ISBN
First edition of five essays by R. M. Wenley, a Scottish-American philosopher and longtime professor at the University of Michigan.
The title essay began as a 1910 talk given to Quadrangle and The Club in Ann Arbor. The book states that this essay is printed here for the first time. Other essays cover Plutarch, physiological psychology, heredity and education, and the American university.
This copy has a colorful “Ex Libris Albert D. Conkey” bookplate and an ownership entry dated January 9, 1915. University of Michigan records show an Albert D. Conkey as a student and member of the Sigma Delta Chi journalism fraternity during this period. Later records describe a man of the same name as a Detroit advertising executive and educator. The connection appears likely, but it has not been fully authenticated.
Best fit for collectors of anarchist thought, political philosophy, University of Michigan history, Ann Arbor history, and early twentieth-century academic books.
Major hook: First edition with the first book printing of the title essay and possible early University of Michigan student provenance.
Condition: Good. No dust jacket is present. Original blue cloth boards show rubbing, fading, light soil, handling marks, and worn corners. Spine ends show wear. There is a small worn spot at the rear board’s fore-edge. Page edges have age toning and spotting. The front endpaper has an Albert D. Conkey ownership entry dated January 9, 1915 and a matching illustrated bookplate. Interior pages show age toning and scattered spotting. Binding appears attached in the supplied photos. Completeness has not been checked page by page. See photos for full condition details.
Search terms: The Anarchist Ideal, R. M. Wenley, Robert Mark Wenley, 1913 first edition, anarchism, political philosophy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor history, Albert D. Conkey, Gorham Press, Richard G. Badger, psychology, education, socialism, communism.
