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Primary sourcePhotograph1690

Title page of Two Treatises of Government, 1690 edition

Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress · 1690

A Library of Congress photographic print of the anonymous first-edition title page of Locke's Two Treatises of Government.

A photographic record of the anonymous title page of Locke's own major political work.

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Black and white scan of the title page of Two Treatises of Government, printed in London in 1690. Large capitals read 'TWO TREATISES OF Government', followed by a long subtitle about Sir Robert Filmer and an essay on civil government. The imprint reads 'LONDON, Printed for Awnsham Churchill, at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary-Lane, by Amen-Corner, 1690.' A handwritten 'Fraser' appears at the left edge.
Title page of John Locke, Two Treatises of Government, London, 1690. Library of Congress.

About this source

What it is

This is a photographic print, held by the Library of Congress, of the title page of the 1690 London edition of Two Treatises of Government by John Locke. The page does not name Locke as the author.

Why it matters

The title page shows directly how Locke chose to hide his authorship of a politically dangerous book. It is a small but telling piece of evidence about the risks writers faced when challenging ideas about royal power in this period.

Look closer

  • What details on the page (printer, date, licensing) can you find, and what do they tell you about how books were produced and controlled?
  • Why do you think Locke's name does not appear anywhere on this page?
  • What does the handwritten name at the edge suggest about who owned or used this copy?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Locke on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of the 1690 London edition of Two Treatises of Government, printed in black letter and roman type in a bordered frame, reading 'Two Treatises of Government... an Essay concerning the True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government', printed for Awnsham Churchill at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary-Lane, by Amen-Corner, 1690.Book

Primary source

Two Treatises of Government

John Locke · 1689 (dated 1690)

Title page of the 1690 first edition of An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. Large capitals read 'AN ESSAY CONCERNING Humane Understanding. In Four Books.' A Latin epigraph from Cicero follows, then a printer's ornament and the imprint 'LONDON: Printed for Tho. Basset, and sold by Edw. Mory at the Sign of the Three Bibles in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCXC.'Book

Primary source

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

John Locke · 1689 (dated 1690)

Sepia-toned mezzotint portrait of a man with long wavy hair, wearing a loose coat and open collar, turning slightly to his left within an oval frame of foliage. A cartouche at the bottom reads 'John Locke Esq.' with inscriptions in the lower corners.Painting

Secondary source

John Locke, Mezzotint after Godfrey Kneller

Godfrey Kneller

Title page of A Letter Concerning Toleration. Large capitals read 'A LETTER', then 'CONCERNING', then 'Toleration: Humbly Submitted, &c.' Below: 'LICENSED, October 3, 1689', then 'LONDON, Printed for Awnsham Churchill, at the Black Swan at Amen-Corner. 1689.' Faint reprint copyright text in background.Letter

Primary source

A Letter Concerning Toleration

John Locke · written 1685-1686, published 1689

Engraved oval portrait of a man with long wavy hair, wearing a loose dark gown over a white collared shirt, set in an ornate oval frame atop a pedestal bearing a coat of arms. Inscription below reads 'Effigies Iohannis Locke' with a Latin line beneath, plus artist credits 'G. Kneller Equ. pinxit 1697' and 'Geo. Vertue Sculp. 1722'.Painting

Secondary source

Portrait of John Locke, frontispiece to Works

George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller · 1722

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