43 AMERICANA “A Few Days Before His Death… He Gave Orders To Destroy All His Manuscripts, Excepting Some Detached Essays, Which He Entrusted To The Care Of His Executors” First edition of this core volume of Smith’s essays, issued posthumously, featuring the important first publication of History of Astronomy that seeks “to explain what drives ‘philosophers’ to ask the questions they do.” Though Essays on Philosophical Subjects appeared five years after Smith’s death, most were likely written before the publication of his Theory of Moral Sentiments in 1759. Prior to his death Smith instructed his literary executors “to destroy his manuscripts but allowed them, at their discretion, to publish a set of essays” (Berry, Cambridge Companion, 116). As noted here, Smith had begun work early in his career on “a connected history of the liberal sciences and elegant arts,” but “found it necessary to abandon that plan as far too extensive.” These writings thus represent Smith’s longstanding attempts at such a “connected history,” and range over philosophy, aesthetics and the history of science. A biographical Account of Smith and his work is followed by the extensive History of Astronomy, which was the only writing Smith did not want destroyed; indeed, he specifically arranged for its posthumous publication. Astronomy “was probably begun decades before Smith’s death, perhaps as early as 1746, and was at one time intended to form a chapter of a much larger work… Astronomy purports to explain what drives ‘philosophers’ to ask the questions they do and to seek explanations for the things they observe” (Otteson, Adam Smith, 22-3). One of 1,000 copies. Trace of early owner signature above title page. Interior very fresh, period-style calf fine. An elemental Adam Smith work. 54SMITH, Adam. Essays on Philosophical Subjects. London, 1795. Large quarto (9 by 11-1/4 inches), period-style full speckled brown calf, custom slipcase. $13,800
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