ABOT DE BAZINGHEN (Francois Andre): Traite des Monnoies et de la Jurisdiction de la Cour des Monnoies, end forme de Dictionnaire, qui contenient, L'Histoire des Monnoies des ancients Peuples Juifs, Gaulois & Romains; Les Monnoies de France...[etc]. Ouvrage utile & nécessaire aux Officiers des Monnoies, aux Changeurs, Assineurs, Fondeurs, Orsévres, Horologers, Tieurs, Batteurs d'or & d'argent, Negoians, Banquiers, &c. à toous ceux qui emploient & négocient les matieres d'or & d'argent.
A Paris, Chez Guillyn..., 1764. FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 4to, 272 x 185 mms., pp. [ii], xvi, 691 [692 blank]; [ii], 710, [2], xxiv, 34 [35 - 36 Approbation], 29 folding tables, early reback in quarter sheepskin, morocco labels, marbled boards (rubbed), uncut; some soiling of edges, but generally a good to very good copy, with the armorial bookplate of Henry N. Sealy on the front paste-down end-paper of each vlume and is autograph on the upper margin of the title-page of each volume. Sealy was the author of A Treatise on Coins, Currency, and Banking: With Observations on the Bank act of 1844 and on the Reports of the Committees of the House of Lords and of the House of Commons on the Bank Acts (1858), so this seems to be a useful book for him to have had in his library. Abot de Bazinghen (1711 - 1791) discusses the history of coins and coinage from its beginnings up to the first quarter of the 18th century. The emphasis is, of course, upon French coins, but he also gives some account in Asia and Africa. Germain Garnier, in his edition of the Wealth of Nations, vol. v., p. 234, says the book "n'est guère qu'une compilation faite sans soin et sans discernment," and explains that the mint price remained in force a very short time. It having failed to bring bullion to the mint, much higher prices were successively offered, and when the Wealth of Nations was published the seignorage only amounted to about 3 per cent. On the silver coin it was then about 2 per cent., in place of the 6 per cent. stated by Bazinghen, p. 590. Graesse 315, Kress Lib 5161, Goldsmith Lib. 9994. (Book ref. 7695)
Edinburgh: Printed for G. Hamilton and J. Balfour, 1753. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 205 x 106 mms., pp. iv, 331 [332 blank], contemporary calf, rebacked, black morocco label. A very good copy. The essay by David Hume (1711 - 1776) to which Wallace (1697 - 1771) alludes on the title-page appeared in his Political Discourses, where Hume had argued that the population of nations in earlier times was not greater than in modern times, a view that Wallace and Montesquieu had endorsed. Hume and Wallace entered into a friendly correspondence about the matter, and on 26 September 1751, Wallace wrote to Hume: "As for your intended Note [which Hume had offered to include in his Political Discourses] relating to my Discourse on the numbers of mankind I have very great reason to be much please with it. If every my little work shall be published such an encomium cannot fail to be an usefull introduction to it & create a mighty prepossession in my favour. It is more to be sure than I deserve & I could never had had the assurance to have proposed it but it might be interpreted rather whim & conceit than real modesty should I refuse such a handsome recommendation & a favourable testimony from such a fair & ingenious antagonist." (Book ref. 7639)
London, Saunders and Otley, 1829. 8vo, pp (iv), 90, but lacking the sub-title after p.52 (which is blank except for the word "Appendix") and the final leaf which is blank except for imprint, some damp stains at the beginning, modern boards, paper label. The second printing (first was 1828) of his third book. Senior's lectures on population contain some of the first arguments against the Malthusian theory based on recent evidence of rising living standards despite the increase in population since the Essay on the Principle of Population first appeared in 1798. Kress C. 2359. Goldsmiths 25822. Levy, Nassau William Senior 1790-1864, p. 281. (Book ref. 7385)
London: Printed for G. Kearsley..., 1790. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 202 x 127 mms, pp. [ii], 163 [164 blank], printed throughout in red, contemporary grey wrappers (soiled); front wrapper detached. A translation of the first two "livraisons" of La Reynie's work and of the third and subsequent "livraisons" of the imitation. La Reynie de la Bruyere (1759 - 1807) was training in a seminary in Angouleme but left it in 1784 after having seduced a girl making her confession. He was one of those who "stormed the Bastille," and by his own account was instrumental in inciting the citizens of Paris to rebellion. This work purports to be an accurate government account of the way the French government treated its more privileged citizens, but the work seems to be largely fictional. Two editions were published in Dublin the same year. Goldsmiths 14375. Kress B.1928. (Book ref. 6525)
METHOLD (William) [PURCHAS (Samuel)]: Naauw-keurige Aanteekeningen van William Methold President van de Engelsse Maatschappy, Gehouden op sijn Voyagie, in het Jaar 1619. Aangaande de Koningrijken van Golconda, Tanassary, Pegu Arecan en meer andere Landen, geleegen langs de Kust van den Zee-boesen van Bengale; als mede den Koophamdel, die door de Engelsse in die Land-streeken gedreeven word. Beneffens den Gods-dienst, Aart, Zeden en Gewoontens omtrent de Stammen deser Volkeren, Huwelijken, Verbranding der Vrouwen met hare Mannen; ook op wat wijse de Diamanten uyt des selfs Mijn aldaar gehaalt worden, door den Schrijver selfs ondersogt en besien; Van hem in het Engels beschreeven, en nu alder-eerst uyt die spraak vertaalt. Met Noodig Register en Konst-Printen verrijkt.
Te Leyden, By Pieter Vandera Aa...., 1707. FIRST EDITION. Slender 8vo, pp. 37 [38 - 42 Index], folding engraved map, 2 folding engraved plates, engraved vignette on title-page, recently rebound in half calf, spine blocked in gilt, marbled boards. A very good copy. The English civil servant William Method (1590 - 1653) was born in Norfolk; he acquired fluency in several foreign languages, including Latin, Dutch, French, and Persian. He began service for the East India Company in 1616, and this account of his experiences there was one of several reports he made to his employers. ODNB notes, "Apart from forthright letters and reports to the company, partly published, he composed a 'Relation of Golconda', a brilliant description of that part of India, which appeared in the 1626 edition of Samuel Purchas's Purchas his Pilgrimage. It included brief descriptions of the kingdoms of Arakan, Pegu, and Tenasserim, based on trade information, not personal observation." This would appear to be the first translation into Dutch of the material published in 1625. Cordier Indosinica, 415. OCLC locates several copies in continental libraries, and UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, and the John Carter Brown Library in the USA; Copac adds BL. (Book ref. 6286)
London: Sold by J. Sewell..., 1786. FIRST EDITION. 8vo (in 4s), pp. [3] - 62, disbound; lacks half-title. The merchant banker, Sir Francis Baring (1740-1810), established the London banking house of Barings, which collapsed in 1995. Here he shows how Pitt's Commutation Act in 1784, which reduced taxes on tea, led to increased consumption of tea, and higher tax revenues. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (Book ref. 6216)
London: Henry G. Bohn..., 1844. 8vo, pp. viii, 304, library buckram; title-page (?cancel) almost detached at inner margin and slightly water-stained, library stamps in blind on title-page and preceding blank prelims, ex-library, with library pockeT on inside rear cover. (Book ref. 5836)
London: Printed for W. Nicoll....and G. Robinson..., 1772. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. 8vo, pp. xi [xii blank], 479 [480 blank], contemporary quarter cal, marbled boards, red morocco label; short tear in fore-margin of pp. 475 - 476 (text not affected), joints cracked. These three essays were originally published in Memoires de observations of the Societe Oeconomique de Berne (1772). Jean Bertrand (1708-1777) wrote the first essay; Benjamin Samuel Georges Carrard (1740 - c. 1796) the second; and Gabriel Seigneux de Correvon (1695-1776) the third. Kress 6860. Goldsmiths 10829. Higgs 5445. (Book ref. 5814)
Leith: W. S. Sutherland..., John Johnstone, Edinburgh, 1843. Large 12mo (in 6s), pp. 12, [3] - 69 [70 postscript], disbound. (Book ref. 5632)
London: Printed by C. Clarke, 1794. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. [3] - 43 [44 blank], library buckram; ex-library. This is one of a series of works on the agriculture of various Scottish counties that Donaldson wrote for the board of agriculture. (Book ref. 5631)
London: Printed for J. Morphew..., 1714. 8vo (in 4s), pp. 72, disbound. The work is variously attributed to William Pittis and/or Francis Atterbury, who is represented here as the Mitre, and Simon Harcourt, the Lord Chancellor as the Purse. It is a reply to Defoe's pamphlet Secret History of the White Staff. (Book ref. 4965)
Edinburgh, Printed by W. Cheyne...Sold by A. Symmer, G. Hamilton, J. Traill..., 1734. 8vo (in 4s), pp. 70, disbound; title-page absolutely filthy. Three editions were published in London in 1734, but this was the only Scottish edition. (Book ref. 4962)
London: Printed for J. Debrett..., 1787. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. viii [ix Errata, x blank], 184, 29 [30 blank], contemporary calf; front cover detached, rear joint cracked and tender, corners worn, ex-library with library stamps in blind on blank prelims and title-page, library pocket on rear paste-down end-paper. Goldsmiths 13474. Kress B. 1332. (Book ref. 4953)
Edinburgh: Printed by Sands, Murray and Cochran. Sold by A. Kincaid &> J. Bell, Edinburgh; and by R. Baldwin, and T. Cadell, London, 1768. FIRST EDITION. 12mo (in 6s), pp. vi [vii - viii instructions], 400, including half-title, authenticated with author's autograph on verso of title-page, contemporary sheepskin, morocco label; joints cracked (but firm), top and base of spine worn, corners a little worn. With the contemporary autograph "John Muir" on recto of front free end-paper and what appears to be "Mr. Fr. Huchinson 1777" at the inner margin of the recto of the following leaf. In 1761, Thomson ( ?1733 - 1807) published his New and Correct Tables Shewing, both in Scots and Sterling Money, the Price of any Quantity of Grain, &c. from one Lippy, or One Fourth Part of a Peck, to a Thousand Bolls; this appears to be his second, and more successful publication, and was reprinted at least seven times in the 18th century. ESTC T98102 locates copies in L, C, D, E (2), and Gu; no copies traced in North American libraries. (Book ref. 4830)
A Paris, Chez Pankoucke..., a Liège, Chez Plomteux..., 1783, 1784. FIRST EDITION. 3 volumes. 4to, pp. xxx [xxxi - xxxii Privilege General], 766; [iv], 798; [iv], 831 [832 blank], xvi, four folding tables in volume 2, contemporary mottled calf, spine ornately gilt in compartments, red and green morocco labels, marbled end-papers; corners worn, upper and lower front joint volume 3 slightly cracked, tops and bases of spines chipped; ex-library with library stamps in blind on initial leaves, and library pocket on rear paste-down end-paper of each volume. This is part of a much larger work issued over a number of years, with the general title Encyclopedié Méthodique. Other volumes were devoted to music, ancient and modern philosophy, mathematics, grammar and literature, jurisprudence, etc. The editors acknowledge their indebtedness to d'Alembert and Diderot, editors of the great Encyclopedié. Although the Encyclopedié Méthodique aimed at and copied the general comprehensiveness of the Encyclopedié, it was organized in self-contained units, so that purchasers who did not wish to have the complete work could acquire only those sections which were of use to them. Goldsmiths 12380, Kress B.574. (Book ref. 4828)
London: Printed for H. S. Woodfall, For T. Cadell...And sold by J. Wilkie..., 1775. FIRST EDITION. 8vo (in 4s), pp. [ii], 47 [48 blank], 19th century half calf, marbled boards; lacks half-title, front cover detached. Goldsmith 11265. Higgs 6371. Sabin 27610. (Book ref. 4731)
[PULTENEY (William) Earl of Bath]: The Case of the Sinking Fund, and the Right of the Publick Creditors to it considered at large; with some Farther Observations on the National Debts, the Civil List, the Bank Contract, Votes of Credit, and other extraordinary Grants of Money. Being a Defence of an Enquiry into the Conduct of our Domestick Affairs, and, A Full Reply to a late Pamphlet, intitled, Some Considerations concerning the Publick Funds, &c. In a Letter to the Author.
London: Printed by H. Haines, at R. Francklin's..., 1735. FIRST EDITION. 8vo (in 4s), 138 [139 - 140 adverts], errata slip pasted to bottom of page 183, library cloth; ex-library with perforations on title-page and bookplate on front paste-down end-paper. Hanson 4814. Kress 4206. Sabin 66641. (Book ref. 4730)
Mendrisio, Cipografia della Minerva Cicinese, 1839. Large 8vo, 240 x 145 mms., pp. xvi, 749 [750 blank], including half-title, engraved portrait, contemporary quarter calf, gilt spine, marbled boards; ex-library with library stamp in blind on title-page and shelf marks on verso, library pocket on rear paste-down end-paper and shelf mark on base of spine. Gioja (1767 - 1829) published this work in 1826 in two volumes; a second edition appeared in 1829. He wrote in opposition to the views of Adam Smith, insisting upon the role of the state in economic matters. (Book ref. 4712)
London: Printed for J. Nourse..., 1770. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. [iv], ix [x Advertisement], [ii], 228, [ii], 304 [305 - 307 Contents, 308 Errata], 39 [40 blank], recently rebound in quarter calf, raised bands between gilt rules, morocco label, marbled boards; ex-library, with perforations in title-page, library stamp across lower edge, small corner torn from top corner of title-page, several leaves closely trimmed, with occasional loss of page number at top of page. A copy of this work was in Adam Smith's library (Mizuta 111), but he makes no specific reference to it in The Wealth of Nations. It is an impressive collection of data, and he pays tribute in the Preface to the work of his predecessors, Henry Saxby (The British Customs, 1759; Mizuta 1492) and Henry Crouch (A Complete View of the British Customs, 1738; Mizuta 440a). He is becomingly modest about the quality of his work, acknowledging only its quantity: "the Editor has gone through a laborious and difficult Task; in its Nature complex; abounding with Objects as well important as minute, demanding Accuracy and Precision in every Line. The Reward which Authors in general propose to themselves, he cannot hope for; as the Work, upon Inspection, will appear to be only the Result of Drudgery; and Drudgery must not aspire to Praise." But without drudges to precede them, would we have geniuses? Goldsmiths 10661. Kress 6708. ESTC locates 30 copies, of which at least 13 do not have the Appendix, which is present in the above copy (last 39 pages). (Book ref. 4017)
London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1872. 8vo, pp. xvi, 650, 24, uncut, many leaves unopened, original cloth. A very good copy. (Book ref. 3875)