"THE UNDISPUTED BIBLE OF ECONOMIC DOCTRINE": FIRST EDITION OF MILL'S PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, 1848, VERY SCARCE IN ORIGINAL CLOTH

MILL, John Stuart. Principles of Political Economy with Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy. London: John W. Parker, 1848. Two volumes. Octavo, original green cloth, printed paper spine labels. Housed in custom chemises and a custom half morocco slipcase. $12,000.

First edition of Mill's important and influential work on political economy, "the undisputed bible of economic doctrine" (Roll, 353), a beautiful copy in original cloth.

"There had been no equally comprehensive treatise, especially none that paid so much attention to practical applications, since the Wealth of Nations" (Schumpeter, 530). "Mill brought economic theory to bear upon practical politics. Like Adam Smith, he 'associates the principles with their applications… He treats political economy 'not as a thing by itself, but as a fragment of a greater whole… for practical purposes inseparably intertwined with many other branches of social philosophy.' The breadth of view required for this wider treatment of the science was obtained by his pre-eminence in general philosophy. In this respect also he, and he alone, is comparable to Adam Smith" (Palgrave II:763). "His methodical and thorough treatment of economics made his work a text-book for more than a generation, and largely determined the scope of most of the treatises of his own and the succeeding period, even of those written by independent thinkers" (CHEL). With rear advertisements: Vol. I with two leaves; Vol. II with one leaf. Without half titles, as often. Goldsmith 35525. Kress C7500. Contemporary ink owner signatures.

A beautiful copy. Very scarce in such extraordinary condition.