Excellent contemporary provenance. The scarce second edition of Adam Smith's first published book, which laid the seedbed for his Wealth of Nations.

Smith devoted the years 1755 to 1759 to writing and publishing The Theory of Moral Sentiments, having been appointed Professor of Logic at Glasgow in 1751 and elected Professor of Moral Philosophy a year later. It was this period at Glasgow College which Smith was later to describe as 'the period of thirteen years which I spent as a member of that society I remember as by far the most useful, and, therefore, as by far the happiest and most honourable period of my life'. First published in 1759, the book immediately established Smith's reputation as a serious scholar worthy of international acclaim.

Important revisions made by Smith to this second edition include a footnote in part one (p.76) replying to criticisms from David Hume on Smith's system of sympathy, and sixteen paragraphs of additional text in the account of the impartial spectator given in the second chapter of part three.

With excellent contemporary provenance for the Glasgow magistrate John Shortridge (1711-1778), recording the original cost-price of 6 shillings, then by descent to his son William Shortridge. A later ownership inscription is for John William Burns (1837-1900) of Kilmahew Castle, a member of the Cunard family who inherited the estate upon the death of his father, James Burns in 1871.

Second edition; 8vo (21 x 13.5 cm); ownership inscriptions in pen to title and front pastedown, bookplate to front pastedown, a little creasing and minor staining to later gatherings, slight offsetting to title and endpaper margins, occasional light toning; contemporary polished calf, slightly cockled, gilt spine in 6 compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece, joints and spine ends expertly restored, edges sprinkled red, corners slightly bumped, slight abrasion to lower cover, very good; [10], 436pp.

ESTC T204238; Tribe 2; Sabin 82314; not in Goldsmith.