Books

First edition of Marx's caustic attack on Proudhon, "the bitterest attack delivered by one thinker upon another since the celebrated polemics of the Renaissance" (Isaiah Berlin), one of 800 copies printed. In 1846, Proudhon had published his celebrated book, La Philosophie de la Misère, inviting Marx's response to it in a letter: "j'attends votre férule critique" (I await your critical rod). Marx wasted no time in reading it and in writing a scathing reply to it in French, thereby creating a permanent rift in their relationship. "The book is a masterpiece of polemical writing... It has also another and greater merit. In it we get the first approach to a comprehensive exposition of the materialistic conception of history. Here we find elaborated the theory that history must be interpreted in the light of economic development... The Misère de la Philosophie created a sensation in radical circles, as might have been expected, and added considerably to the fame of the author" (Spargo). Octavo (225 x 144 mm), pp. [viii], 178. Contemporary maroon-pebble grained cloth, spine ruled and direct lettered in gilt, sides with double rule blind-stamped border, marbled edges, silk ribbon marker. Without the leaf of errata sometimes found. Ownership stamp "O.G." to title page, pencil ownership inscription (E.S. dated 1966 with cost code), and note signed E.E.S. dated 2005 to front free endpaper and half-title verso. Spine faded, short split to head of front joint, corners a little bruised. Endpapers a little browned and fragile, short tear to lower margin of front free endpaper and half-title without loss; contents with very occasional light spotting; a very good copy. Die Erstdrucke der Werke von Marx und Engels, p. 10; Draper M681; Rubel 55; Sraffa 3837. John Spargo, Karl Marx: His Life and Work, 1910.