Books

First French language book edition of Das Kapital, following an issue in parts from August 1872 to May 1875. Translated from the second German edition by M. J. Roy with significant revisions by Marx. Quarto. 351, [1, table of contents] pp. Title page with architectural vignette. Alternate title page with "1re Livraison" and original issue price of "Dix Centimes" printed in lower margin. Portrait. Letter from the author to Maurice Lach�tre in facsimile, with the publisher's response on the verso. Text in two columns with engraved head- and tail-pieces. Bound in modern quarter black morocco over marbled boards with matching endpapers, spine lettered in gilt with five raised bands. Light shelf-wear, some leaves toned, occasional foxing throughout, and the rare small closed tear or modest stain. [Einaudi 3770. Printing and the Mind of Man 359.].

"Das Kapital," written by Karl Marx, is a seminal work critiquing the capitalist system's foundations and mechanisms. Published in 1867, this extensive analysis of capitalism delves into its economic processes, the exploitation inherent within, and its eventual contradictions which Marx believed would lead to its downfall. Marx introduces key concepts such as commodity, value, surplus value, and the labor theory of value, arguing that the value of a commodity is determined by the labor required for its production. He criticizes how capitalists profit by exploiting workers, paying them less than the value of their labor while selling the products for their full value. Marx's critique extends to the dynamics of capital accumulation, technological advancements, and their effects on the proletariat, predicting increasing capital centralization and crises stemming from capitalism's internal contradictions. "Das Kapital" covers the circulation and distribution of capital, explaining how surplus value is divided among different classes and sectors, leading to cycles of boom and bust. Despite its influence, "Das Kapital" has faced criticism for its total failure in economic predictions, such as the underestimation of capitalism's adaptability and the overemphasis on the labor theory of value. Critics argue Marx's predictions of escalating class struggle and the proletariat revolution have not materialized as expected, questioning his views on human nature and the efficiency of market mechanisms. Nonetheless, "Das Kapital" remains a pivotal work in economic and political thought, offering a deep, if wrong, critique of capitalism and its socio-economic impacts.