Capital and Population: A Study of the Economic Effects of Their Relations to Each Other

Small 8vo. Plum cloth with gilt spine lettering and black rules. iv, 267pp, (6pp ads). Very good. Text block exceptionally tight and fine, with binding nice though spine is lightly sunned and bears hand-lettered paper shelf label near foot. Quite attractive first edition of this study from the American economist (1843-1929) about whom little appears to be known but is more likely an academic rather than a businessman; he also authored "Enterprise and the Production Process" (1907) and is remembered for his "risk theory of profit." He boldly inscribes and signs an inner flyleaf in black ink to "Hon. Wm. B. Allison / with the compliments of / the author / Fred. B. Hawley." From the collection of a noteable who you would expect to have a first-rate economics library: William B. Allison (1829-1908), the powerful Iowa Republican who, as U.S. senator from that state (1873-1908), was one of the "big four" who controlled the Senate; as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for most of those years, he championed tariff legislation and co-authored the Bland-Allison Act of 1878; as member of the Senate Finance Committee he was often courted by U.S. presidents to hold cabinet positions. Early 20th century bookplate on front pastedown notes "This book is part of Allison Memorial Collection Gift of Mrs. Jennie A. Brayton" and until deaccessioned was part of Allison's non-circulating collection at his hometown public library across the street from his Dubuque residence. Notes Leland L. Sage in his 1956 biography "William Boyd Allison: A Study in Practical Politics," Allison owned "hundreds of books on government, economics, history, banking, finance, and the tariff. An omnivorous reader, Allison doubtless read most of these volumes, if only for relaxation from the strain that accompanied his efforts to solve the many problems facing the Nation.".…