August 2022 Catalogue

– 23 – A u g u s t 2 0 2 2 The First Printing Of Milton Friedman’s “Methodology Of Positive Economics” 23. (ECONOMICS) FRIEDMAN, Milton. Essays in Positive Economics. Chicago, 1953. Octavo, original blue cloth, dust jacket. $5750. First edition of the work containing the first appearance of Friedman’s pivotal essay, “Methodology of Positive Economics,” hailed as “the most cited, influential, and controversial piece of methodological writing in 20th-century economics,” in very scarce dust jacket. “The most famous methodological piece within 20th century economics is Milton Friedman’s ‘Methodology of Positive Economics.’ This piece is taken to advocate prediction-ism as the most important goal for and criterion of the success of economic theories” (Eric Schliesser). It “remains the most cited, influential, and controversial piece of methodological writing in 20th-century economics” (Uskali Mäki). Owner signature. Only occasional marginal check marks and underlining. Book near-fine, with a few tiny marginal tears, ink smudge to edge of text block, and only slightest rubbing to extremities. Scarce dust jacket extremely good, with a couple pen scribbles to rear panel and rear flap, a few small spots of soiling, and light wear to extremities. An attractive copy. “A Substantial Contribution To General Economics”: Malthus On Rent, 1815 First Edition 24. (ECONOMICS) MALTHUS, Thomas Robert. An Inquiry into the Nature and Progress of Rent. London, 1815. Slim octavo, modern marbled boards, custom clamshell box. $12,000. First edition of this “substantial contribution to general economics,” an important influence on Ricardo. “A substantial contribution to general economics… The rent theory it propounded… [is] historically significant because it attracted [Malthus’ friend and correspondent David] Ricardo from money into general economics and supplied him with an important building block” for his work of “determining the distribution of national income between landowners, capitalists and workers” (Niehans, 79, 88). Bound with publisher’s eightpage catalogue at rear, dated February, 1815. Minor spotting to rehinged title page and “Advertisement” leaf; text generally clean, marbled boards fine.

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