Books

Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1924. Hardcover. Three quarter red levant and marbled boards. Teg. Near fine. 481 pages. 21 x 15 cm. Limited edition, copy 20 of 25 on India Paper, "has been printed for presentation to friends." Title page in red and black, several engraved facsimiles including frontispiece and captioned tissue guards. Originally published 1705 as satire on economic orthodoxy and a seminal text of libertarian thought. Mandeville argues that the basest and vilest behaviors produce positive economic effects. His philosophy gave great offence at the time, and was stigmatized as false, cynical and degrading. He was also an early describer of the division of labour, and Adam Smith used of some of his examples. Two volumes in one. Raised bands, spine lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, spine slightly darkened.