An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith

Published by R. Chapman, Glasgow, 1805

About this Item

The scarce first Scottish edition of Adam Smith's enormously influential work of classical economics, the first edition of this work to feature a portrait of the author. A scarce first Scottish edition, complete in four volumes and in the publisher's original boards.This is the first edition to have been published in Smith's native Scotland, and is the first with a portrait of the author.Published in Glasgow, the city where Smith studied as a young man and held posts at the University, including as Professor of Logic in 1751 and then as Professor of Moral Philosophy until 1764.Based upon the the text of the fourth edition of 1786.Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece to volume I.Smith's work is widely held as perhaps the most influential and foundational text in the field of economics, laying the groundwork form modern economic thought and policy, and discussing matters including division of labour and the free market, and introducing the metaphor of 'the invisible hand'.An important edition of the first modern work to treat economics as a comprehensive system, and as an academic discipline. In the publisher's original paper covered boards, with paper spine labels. Losses of paper to back strip heads and tails, with ink volume numbers to back strip heads of volumes II-IV. Handling marks to boards. Spine labels age toned, with small losses. Joints starting, with rear board of volume IV a touch tender, otherwise firmly held. Volume I endpapers renewed. Internally, firmly bound. Pages age toned due to paper type, with spots throughout. Good.

Seller Inventory # 948F37

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
• Publisher: R. Chapman, Glasgow
• Publication Date: 1805
• Binding: Hardback
• Illustrator: None
• Edition: First edition.
• Condition: Good
• Book Type: book
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