Books

Rare first edition of one of the most important and influential works in the history of economic thought. In this copy Q8 (pp. 239-40) is in its first state, with line 9 reading "the immortality of man on earth seems to be as completely established", as opposed to the later cancel with the correction "mortality". "The central idea of the essay - and hub of the Malthusian theory - was a simple one. If the natural increase in population occurs the food supply becomes insufficient and the size of the population is checked by 'misery' - that is the poorest sections of the community suffer disease and famine. Malthus recognises two other possible checks to population expansion: first 'vice' - that is, homosexuality, prostitution, and abortion (all totally unacceptable to Malthus); and second 'moral restraint' - the voluntary limitation of the product of children by the postponement of marriage" (PMM). "For today's readers, living in a post-Malthus era, the world's population problems are well known and serious, but no longer sensational. It is difficult therefore to appreciate the radical and controversial impact made by the Essay at the time of publication. It challenged the conventional notion that population growth is an unmixed blessing. It discussed prostitution, contraception, and other sexual matters. And it gave vivid descriptions of the horrendous consequences of overpopulation and of the brutal means by which populations are checked" (ODNB). Despite its unpopularity with liberal critics, Malthus's principle of population became accepted as a central tenet of classical political economy and Charles Darwin acknowledged Malthus's influence in the development of his theory of natural selection. Carpenter XXXII (1); Einaudi 3667; Garrison-Morton 1693; Goldsmiths' 17268; Kress B3693; McCulloch, pp. 259-60; Norman 1431; Printing and the Mind of Man 251. Octavo (212 x 130 mm). Contemporary half calf, red morocco label to flat spine separated into compartments with gilt single fillets and rope-twist rolls, sprinkled paper boards, pale yellow edges. Housed in a custom marbled paper slipcase. Printed on blue toned stock, errata on A8v, Q8 in its first state. Discreet restoration to binding, including at spine joints; endpapers and title page browned from turn-ins, expert paper repair to chip at fore edge of front free endpaper and to loss at upper margin of title leaf (not affecting text), contents crisp and clean with the occasional spot or mark, a few gatherings lightly foxed (including R, S, and Y). A very good copy, presenting handsomely in its contemporary binding.

The book addresses the relationship between population growth and food supply. Malthus argued that population tends to grow exponentially, while food production increases only arithmetically, meaning that population growth would eventually outpace the ability to produce enough food. He suggested that without checks, such as famine, disease, or war, overpopulation would lead to widespread poverty and suffering. Malthus identified two types of checks on population growth: "positive checks," which raise the death rate (such as famine and disease), and "preventive checks," which reduce the birth rate (such as moral restraint, later marriage, or celibacy). He believed that without preventive measures, human misery was inevitable. Malthus’s work had a lasting influence on economic and demographic theories, and his ideas about population pressure also influenced Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Although some of his predictions were mitigated by technological advances in agriculture, his work remains important in discussions of overpopulation and resource sustainability.