The Wealth of Nations. By Adam Smith. Limited Edition. Franklin Library. Franklin Center, 1978.

Adam Smith was a Scottish economist and moral philosopher in the eighteenth century. Probably no other figure had so great an impact on capitalist society and free market economics. His seminal work is The Wealth of Nations. It is a treaty on political economy––a founding work that influenced the American Revolution and economic systems the world over. It argued against the feudal and mercantile systems of Europe at the time and instead proposed a free market system wherein supply and demand became the driving forces of production. For the past two centuries, Smith’s ideas have dominated economic thought. His metaphor of the Invisible Hand and positive notions of economic competition still undergird western political and economic systems. For any history, economy, or philosophy collector, it is an essential volume.

This limited edition is in very good condition. In the original leather, elaborately gilt stamped, very good with only minor fading and minor marker spots to spine. Raised bands. Gilt spine label. Text block very good, only minor foxing to gilt edges. Silk moire endpapers and bookmark sewn in.

A very good collector’s copy of The Wealth of Nations.