An Inquiry into the Nature and causes of the Wealth of Nations ... the Eleventh edition; with notes, supplementary chapters, and a life of Dr. Smith, by William Playfair. In three volumes.
London: T. Cadell and W. Davies 1805. Three volumes. Vol I: xl, 515 pages. Vol II: viii, 567 pages. Vol III: viii, 590, [2-ads] pages. 8vo, full calf, earlier rebacking preserving original boards, renewed endpapers. Red spine labels gilt, basic gilt tooled compartments but without raised bands. Leather overall a little dry with small hairline cracks starting in spine leather. Hinges still sound and usable. Corner tips bumped with wear and leather loss. Generally clean internally, noting several signatures in Vol III with significant foxing. Very Good. Boards. [27934]
First published in 1776, Printing and the Mind of Men notes this work "is the first and greatest classic of moderrn economic thought" by bringing economic thought to the same point that the political aspects of human rights were after two centuries, but here in a single work. With the first edition bringing well into six figures, this is an opportunity to purchase a this important work with later additions at a reasonable price. Early editions are avidly collected by those interested in the field.
Kress, "Library of Business and Economics", B.4976. Williams "Guide to Printed Materials for English Social and Economic History", Vol 1: p187 (ref 1st ed): "Extremely valuable not only from its place in the history of economic theory but also as a source for contemporary economic conditions." Howey, A Bibliography of General Histories of Economics 1692-1975, #10 (Ref 1st edition): "The later editions and translations of Wealth of Nations were more numerous by far than those of any other book contributing to the historiography of economics..." Howey laments the lack of respect given to Smith when his bibliography was written (1982).
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