Books

London : Printed for D. Browne ; J. Shuckburgh, and J. Whiston and B. White, 1755. Hardcover. Good. 4th ed, substantially enlarged. 21 cm. Bound in contemporary acid-calf. Rebacked, with later spine. 5 raised bands. Red leather spine label. Blind stamp on title. Generally clean internally. IV, VI, 184 p., [2] of advertisements. Kress 5463. Goldsmith 8998. An important book in the history of political economy, first published in 1699. William Petty studied the demographics and economics of England, Holland, France, as well as the cities of London, Dublin and Rome. Petty was the personal secretary of Thomas Hobbes, an Oxford-trained doctor, and a medical professor. During the English Civil War he traveled in Cromwell's army as physician-general. He later was an MP and surveyor-general in Ireland. His work in Ireland and receipt of a landed estate, focused Petty on problems in social science and economics. Petty's groundbreaking work in economics preceded that of…

The Political Arithmetick is known for its early use of statistical data and analysis to understand the economy.