Books

First edition of Jevons's foremost contribution to the history of economic thought. "Comparatively short and lucidly written, it sharply attacked the classical theory of value of the 'Ricardo-Mill school', and offered in its place the challenging view that 'value depends entirely upon utility', asserting boldly that 'Economy, if it is to be a science at all must be a mathematical science'... from it Jevons gained international recognition as an economic theorist" (ODNB). "A work of epoch-making importance. John Maynard Keynes writes of it: 'The first modern book on economics, it has proved singularly attractive to all bright minds newly attacking the subject; - simple, lucid, unfaltering, chiselled in stone where Marshall knits in wool'" (Hazlitt). Provenance: from the library of American economist Henry W. Stuart (1870-1951), with his ownership inscription dated St Louis, Missouri, October 1896, and with his occasional pencil markings and faint annotation. Octavo. Original brown pebble-grain cloth boards, blind-stamped rule border to covers, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, black coated endpapers. Recased, spine ends and corners professionally restored, contents lightly toned at extremities, one leaf with small loss to lower margin; a sound copy. Batson, p. 141; Cossa, p. 254 (78); Einaudi 3070; Hazlitt, The Free Man's Library, p. 96; Menger, col. 468.