90 LAUDERDALE, James Maitland, eighth Earl of. An Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Public Wealth, and into the Means and Causes of its Increase. Edinburgh: Arch. Constable and Co., 1804 First edition of this important commentary on Smith’s Wealth of Nations . “Lauderdale’s importance in the history of economics lies, not in his conclusions, but in the fact that he was the first in England to consider systematically the fundamental conceptions on which the science is based. In this respect alone he is in advance of Adam Smith” ( Palgrave II, p. 574). He “has been hailed as a forerunner of Keynes, in as much as he argued that over-saving was a distinct possibility and that public spending was required to offset private thrift if stagnation was to be averted” (Blaug). Octavo (211 × 128 mm). Contemporary calf, rebacked with black morocco label, recornered. With folding table at rear. Bookseller’s ticket and later 19th-century bookplate to front pastedown, 20th- century ownership signature to front free endpaper. Lacking rear free endpaper, a few pencilled annotations to text, rubbing to extremities with faint ring stain to front cover, light foxing to initial and final leaves. A very good copy. ¶ Einaudi 3628; Goldsmiths’ 8801; Kress B.4816; McCulloch, pp. 15–16. £875 [146719] 91 LE TROSNE, Guillaume-Francois. De l’administration provinciale, et de la réforme de l’impôt; [bound with:] Manière de simplifier la plan proposé. Basle: [no publisher,] 1779 The Dampierre copy First edition, very rare, especially complete with the additional 24-page note, this copy from the celebrated library of the Ducs de Luynes, with the Dampierre bookplate. The work is an important source of information on the organization of French society before 1789. A French lawyer and economist, Le Trosne studied natural law philosophy with Pothier, planning to become a magistrate. He joined the Physiocrats in 1764 by publishing a book defending the free trade in grain and contributed articles
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in the Ephémérides du citoyen and other journals, followed by De l’ordre social in 1777. De l’administration provinciale was “a ponderous tome, scientific in tone, which, from the point of view of the financier, had the advantage of appearing four years before the work of Necker on the administration of the financial affairs of France; and from the point of view of the politician, of appearing ten years before the celebrated night of 5th August 1789” (A. Courtois in Palgrave ) . Le Trosne omitted to take into consideration the requirements of the clergy and the work was outlawed in 1780, the year of his death, which may explain its rarity. A two-volume octavo edition followed in 1788. Quarto (256 × 195 mm). Contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments, red morocco label, triple gilt rule border to covers, marbled endpapers, red edges, green silk bookmarker. Dampierre bookplate to front pastedown. Closed tear to the 12 leaves of the Manière de simplifier le plan proposé skilfully repaired, affecting one or two characters only; an excellent copy in a splendid contemporary binding. ¶ Kress S. 4942; Mattioli 1964. £7,500 [83936]
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Peter Harrington
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