An inquiry into the nature and origin of public wealth, and into the means and causes of its increase

Lauderdale [James Maitland, 8th] Earl of

Published by printed for Arch. Constsable and Co., Edinburgh; and T. N. Longman and O. Rees, London, Edinburgh, 1804

About this Item

First edition, 8vo, pp. [10], 482; folding table of farm expenditure and produce; original green marbled paper-covered boards, printed paper label on spine; label rather darkened, joints and hinges cracked, both covers nearly loose, spine worn with losses at top and bottom; a fair copy overall but the textblock is clean and the sewing structure is sound. Early ownership signature on the front free endpaper of "Culcreuch 23rd Jan'y 1806" and with a few markings of the text in pencil and 1 or 2 in ink in a small, neat hand. Lauderdale's work on economics attracted considerable attention at the time and produced a bitter controversy between the author and Lord Brougham who reviewed it in the Edinburgh Review. The work provides an important commentary on Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, highly regarded by later economists. Palgrave remarked that "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.".

Seller Inventory # 66825

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An inquiry into the nature and origin of public wealth, and into the means and causes of its increase
• Publisher: printed for Arch. Constsable and Co., Edinburgh; and T. N. Longman and O. Rees, London, Edinburgh
• Publication Date: 1804
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Economics
  • English Literature