Paris, Rapilly, 1828-1829.
6 volumes 8vo. Quarter-calf, spines decorated with gilt fillets and borders, citron morocco lettering-pieces, marbled edges. Contemporary binding by Meslant.
205 x 130 mm.
First edition of Jean-Baptiste Say’s Cours complet d’économie politique pratique.
Bibliothèque Nationale, “En français dans le texte “, n° 207.
Born in Lyon into a Protestant merchant family, J.B. Say studied commerce in England, where he went on a trip at the age of 19 after completing good studies. He discovered Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” and was converted to Economic Science, becoming one of its “founders” and its most effective propagator, not just for governments, but for all producers.
His Traité d’Économie politique, published in 1803, was a great success. Interested, Bonaparte asked Say to modify certain theses; following his refusal, the second edition was banned and Say was one of the tribunes eliminated by Bonaparte.
In 1817, his “Catechisme d’économie politique” was intended to spread new knowledge widely.
Say gathered the essential of his economic teaching and published it in 1828-1829, in 6 volumes, under the title “Cours complet d’économie politique”.
With his reputation now established, after the July Revolution he was appointed Professor of Political Economy at the College de France. This was his consecration, as well as that of his ideas and teaching.
A copy in original condition, with the following autograph dedication: « A S.A.R Mgr. Le Prince Royal de la part de l’auteur”, and the stamp: Bibliothèque de S.A.R Mgr. Le Duc d’Orléans.
Ferdinand-Philippe, Duc d’Orléans was the eldest son of King Louis-Philippe I and Marie-Amélie. Born in Palermo on September 3, 1810, he died in Paris on July 13, 1842, following a fall from a carriage on the road from Paris to Neuilly.
Appointed colonel of the 1st regiment of hussars in 1824, he devoted himself entirely to the practice of command and the theory of military art.
In 1829, he visited England with his father, then accompanied his regiment to Luneville, then to Joigny, where he would meet again during the July revolution.
On August 1, he had his soldiers wear the tricolor cockade, and on August 3 he led them back to Paris, where he became Duke of Orléans and Prince Royal on the accession of Louis-Philippe I to the throne.
Guigard. Nouvel Armorial du bibliophile. I. 40.
The copy bears the following library labels at the tail of the spines: N° 47 to 52. Division B.
