Indian Currency and Finance.

Keynes' first book

Keynes' first published book in full red morocco.

Indian Currency and Finance was Keynes' first published book, marking the culmination of his experiences working as an administrative official at the India Office between 1906 and 1908, and based on a series of lectures Keynes gave on Indian monetary problems at the London School of Economics and the University of Cambridge in the two years prior to publication. In it, Keynes argues for the continuance of the Indian gold exchange standard over the adoption of a full gold standard, such as in place in Britain, recognising the virtue of a system under which neither a gold currency nor dependence on a substantial holding of gold reserves was necessary to guard against external liabilities. Although critical of official government policy, the book was well received, and Keynes was appointed to Royal Commission to investigate the matter further.

First edition; 8vo (22.5 x 14.5 cm); folding statistical table towards rear, slight offsetting to half-title; modern full red morocco, covers ruled in gilt, spine lettered and tooled in gilt, all edges gilt, very good; viii, 263, [1]pp.