Books

Karl Marx Das Kapital - Band I. Der Produktionsprozess des Kapitals. Vierte Auflage 1890. HANDGEBUNDENER LEDEREINBAND mit sch�ner Provenienz. Verlag von Otto Meissner, Hamburg 1890. Vierte, durchgesehene Auflage, 789 Seiten. Dunkelblauer Ganzledereinband im Stil der Zeit, mit reicher Goldornamentik und gemusterten Vorsatzpapieren. Provinienz: Aus dem Besitz von Georg Friedrich Nikolai (1874 - 1964 Deutscher Arzt, Pazifist und Soziologe). Mit Namenszug und sch�nem Besitzerstempel, sowie Geschenkwidmung seines Freundes Willy Wolfram, datiert vom 6.02.1896. Geringe Fleckchen, auf wenigen Seiten und kaum sichtbare minimalste Bereibungen des Ledereinbands. Insgesamt sehr sch�ner und gepflegter Zustand. New dark blue full leather binding in period style, with rich gold ornamentation and patterned endpapers. Provenance: From the estate of Georg Friedrich Nikolai (1874 - 1964 German physician, pacifist and sociologist). With name inscription and nice owner's stamp, as well as gift dedication from his friend Willy Wolfram, dated 6.02.1896. Minor spotting, on a few pages and barely visible minimal rubbing to leather binding. Overall very nice and well-kept condition.

"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.