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Full Description: SMITH, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Or, an Essay Towards an Analysis of the Principles by which Men naturally judge concerning the Conduct and Character, first of their Neighbours, and afterwards of themselves. To Which is added, A Dissertation on the Origin of Languages. First American from the Twelfth Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: Published by Anthony Finley. J. Maxwell Printer., 1817. First American edition (stated). There was a edition printed in Boston the same year. It is believed that this Philadelphia edition came before the Boston edition. Sabin only lists the Boston edition. Kress calls this the first American and Vanderblue collection lists the Philadelphia copy first and does not have a Boston copy. Both editions are very rare. We could only find 7 copies total on Rare Book Hub, the last appearing in 2007. One octavo volume (8 1/2 x 5 1/8 inches; 215x 130 mm). [2, blank], vii, [1, blank], 598, [2, publisher's ads], [2, blank] pp. Contemporary full marbled sheep. Spine with red leather spine label, lettered in gilt. Spine ruled in gilt. Spine with repairs along hinges and head and tail. Boards a bit scuffed and corners bumped. Some washed dampstaining to preliminary leaves. Leaves foxed and toned throughout as is usual from American paper of this time. Two previous owner's bookplates to front pastedown, Joel Crawford and C.P. Crawford. Title-page and final leaf with the old ink signature "J. Crawford." A few instances marginalia in the same ink, as well as a few pencil underlines. Overall a very good copy. Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments is drawn from his course of lectures while he was professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow. "The work received wide acclaim and so impressed the stepfather of the young duke of Buccleuch that he invited Smith to become the duke's tutor, with the promise of a pension for life.The greater part of the Theory of Moral Sentiments is an account of moral psychology.The mainstay of Smith's moral psychology is sympathy.Smith characterizes the mechanism of sympathy in this way: 'Whatever is the passion which arises from any object in the person principally concerned, an analogous emotion springs up at the throught of this situation, in the breast of every attentive spectator'.Smith argues that if the appearance of grief or joy, for example, arouses similar feelings in us, it is because these feelings suggest to us the general idea of some good or evil that has befallen the person in whom we observe them" (Encyclopedia of Philosophy). "The Theory of Moral Sentiments was published in April 1759 and at once brought Smith something more than local fame. It was hailed by David Hume in typical ironic manner: 'I proceed to tell you the melancholy news', he wrote from London, 'that your book has been very unfortunate: for the public seem disposed to applaud it extremely'" (Mossner, Adam Smith: The Biographical Approach, p. 12). Provenance: The bookplates on this copy are for Joel Crawford, Milledgeville [GA], 1824 and C.P. Crawford. Joel Crawford (June 15, 1783 - April 5, 1858) was an American politician, soldier and lawyer. He served as a U.S. Congressman in the state of Georgia. Kress B.7052. The Vanderblue memorial collection of Smithiana (Pg 40-41). Sabin 82314 (for first edition) HBS 69616. $15,000.
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