An Inquiry into the Nature and Progress of Rent, and the Principles by which it is Regulated.

8vo (213 x 131 mm). All pages uncut. [4], 61 [1] pp., advert leaf bound after title, unnumbered publisher's adverts on verso of page 61 (without the additional 4-leaves of publisher's adverts at end, not belonging to this tract, but sometimes found in copies). Modern marbled blue paper over thick boards, new endpapers. Housed in fine clamshell box of brown morocco and cloth, spine gilt-lettered. Extensive but professional repair of title-page, not affecting text and minor further repairs of outer margins of first 10 text leaves and 5 further leaves, including reinforcements at gutter (all without loss of text); minor edge chipping in places; light dust-soiling to outer margins; title-page somewhat dust-soiled and spotted, advert page after title partly split at paper reinforcement. Provenance: small number stamp in light blue ink to title page; a few light pencil markings. Despite the paper repairs still a very good copy. ---- RARE FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE (with J. Murray and J. Johnson in imprint). The first full presentation of Malthus' classic essay in which he presented the Malthusian-Ricardian theory of rent for the first time. "At the end of 1805 [Malthus] became professor of history and political economy at the newly founded college of Haileybury [East India College, Hertfordshire]. He gave lectures on political economy. The lectures led him to consider the problem of rent. The theory at which he arrived is partly indicated in two pamphlets upon the 'corn laws' and is fully given in the tract upon the 'Nature and Progress of Rent'" (DNB). - Visit our website to see more images. …