solicited his advice on various employment projects. He raised the possibility that workhouses could be both charitable and profitable, even if he failed to achieve this himself. In 1696 the city of Bristol made a centralized Corporation of the Poor with a public workhouse, soon copied by other cities, a scheme similar to that promoted by Firmin. Small quarto (179 × 136 mm), 24 pp. 20th-century marbled boards, red sheep label. Boards and label rubbed but holding firm, contents lightly toned, a couple of early annotations cropped. A very good, crisp copy. ¶ ESTC R20262; Goldsmiths’ 2264; Kress 1464; Wing F971. £5,000 [150982] 61 FOURIER, Charles. Traité de l’association domestique- agricole; [together with:] Sommaire du Traité de l’asociation domestique-agricole, ou attraction industrielle. Paris & London: Bossange père, P. Mongie ainé, & Martin Bossange, 1822–23 With an autograph letter First edition of each work, the best of his later works, in which Fourier restates his ideas of utopian socialism and universal harmony.
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Starting from an analysis of human nature, and above all of the passions as affecting human happiness, Fourier’s “fundamental tenet was that right social organization must be based, not on curbing natural human desires, but on finding means for satisfying them in ways that would lead to harmony instead of discord. He was the opponent of all moralists who founded their systems on the notion of an opposition between the reason and the passions, or regarded social organization as an instrument for compelling men to be good against their wills. He held human nature to be essentially unchanging from age to age, and thus denied the doctrine of many of his fellow- Utopians – especially Godwin and Owen – that character could be moulded into almost any shape by environment” (Cole, p. 62ff). Loosely inserted into the first work is an autograph letter signed, thanking a female friend for an invitation and confirming his attendance. 2 works in 3 volumes, octavo (217 × 131 mm and 205 × 120 mm). The Traité in contemporary pink decorated boards, red morocco labels, the Supplément in contemporary blue quarter roan and marbled boards, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, sprinkled edges, preserved in custom made morocco and marbled paper chemises, in a slip case. Author’s signature verifying the edition to half-title verso. Autograph letter signed, on headed notepaper of La Réforme Industrielle, loosely inserted. Spine ends and corners a little worn and chipped, occasional light spotting; a very good set. ¶ Del Bo 5 & 6; Einaudi 1960; Goldsmiths’ 23694 & 23997; Kress C.864 & C.1060. G. D. H Cole, Socialist Thought. The Forerunners 1789–1850 , Macmillan & Co., 1953. £12,500 [151284]
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Peter Harrington
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