Philosophical Library

Philosophical Library (New York, US)
Series dates: 1941-2007
Size: variable

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Founded in 1941 by Dagobert Runes, the Philosophical Library published the work of European intellectuals forced out of Europe in the 1930s. The Philosophical Library was more of a publisher than a series, but many of its books (as well as its name fits the general idea of a series. The Philosophical Library consisted of reprints and new works, including edited collections, dictionaries, and guides to various academic fields. A relatively small number of titles in the series titles were fiction. After 2007 the publisher shifted to eBooks and on-demand printing.

Books and dust jackets in the Philosophical Library varied significantly. This copy of Mykola Khvylovy’s Stories from the Ukraine contained stories originally published in the early 1920s but translated for the first time into English. The jackets are unique to each title. The front jacket flap contains an overview of the book and a price ($3.50).

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The description of the book continues onto the rear jacket flap. A list of titles in the Philosophical Library fills the back of the jacket.

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Books are well-bound in pale blue-grey cloth with black typography.

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The half-title page:

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The title page:

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The copyright page with the date (1960) of publication. The Philosophical Library typically indicated reprint dates if the book was reprinted.

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