The Theory of Moral Sentiments.

scarce lifetime edition

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

Smith devoted the years from 1755 to 1759 to writing and publishing The Theory of Moral Sentiments, having been appointed Professor of Logic at the University of Glasgow in 1751 and elected Professor of Moral Philosophy a year later. It was this period at Glasgow 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.

The most significant change to take effect in this the third edition was the inclusion for the first time of Smith's essay on the origin of languages, titled in full 'Considerations concerning the first formation of Languages, and the different genius of original and compounded Languages', which had previously been published in The Philological Miscellany in 1761. Other minor revisions were made to the passages involving comment on religion.

Third edition, revised with additional essay; 8vo (20.5 x 13.5 cm); publisher's device to title, old piece in pen to front pastedown, front free endpaper excised, occasional light spotting; contemporary calf, spine in 6 gilt banded compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece, covers a little soiled and abraded with slight loss, joints and corners a little rubbed, small nick to spine head-cap, a very good unrestored example; [8], 478pp.

ESTC T122844; Rothschild 1895; Mizuta 4.