The wealth of nations. Adam Smith (1723-1790) 'spent ten years in the writing and perfecting of this work, the first edition selling out within six months. It had no rival in scope or depth when published and is still one of the few works in its field to have achieved such an exalted status, meaning simply that it has sustained yet survived repeated reading, critical and adulatory, long after the circumstances that prompted it have become the object of historical enquiry' (ODNB).

Ninth edition; 3 vols, 8vo; contemporary sprinkled calf, red and black morocco labels, front free endpaper vol. I replaced, lightly rubbed, an excellent set; xii, 499; viii, 518,[v]; viii, 465, [xlix]pp., 1 page ads' at end.



PMM 221 (first edition).