Books

First edition, presentation copy, one of 40 specially bound copies printed on thick paper for distribution to influential members of church and state across Europe and America (Owen, p. 111). Perhaps the most distinguished recipient was Napoleon, then in exile on the isle of Elba. The Essays constitute the first and most important published work by the "father of British socialism" (Gorb, p. 127). The first two parts were published in 1813, the latter two printed for private distribution only in 1814. The British Government helped Owen to distribute the presentation copies. In his autobiography, Owen records that Napoleon "had read and studied this work with great attention" (p. 112). On purchasing the textile mill complex at New Lanark in 1799, Robert Owen introduced a series of comprehensive educational and social reforms for the 2,000 workers employed there. He improved the quality of their housing, organized affordable & high-quality goods for their shelves, and revolutionized the educational opportunities for their children. Owen erected the "Institute for the Formation of Character", which was to contain public halls, community rooms, and above all, schools for the children at work in the factory. The educational work at New Lanark excited the admiration of visitors from all over the world. A New View of Society outlines the principles upon which Owen "based his educational and social reforms at New Lanark, an account of their application there, and an outline of the means by which his theories might be applied to the nation as a whole" (Goldsmiths' Owen Exhibition). The fourth essay advocates a universal state educational system, a Ministry of Education, colleges for training teachers, a system of state-aided public works, and the gradual abolition of the poor laws. For this reason, Owen's Essays have been recognized as "the first practical statement of socialist doctrine" (PMM). READ MORE 4 parts bound in 1 volume, octavo (229 x 142 mm). Contemporary dark blue straight-grain morocco, spine lettered and with compartments decorated in gilt, raised bands, covers with gilt roll and palmette borders, gilt turn-ins, watered orange silk doublures and endpapers, gilt edges. Housed in a custom black cloth solander box, spine lettered in gilt. Loosely inserted pink silk bookmarker. Light bumping and rubbing, endband detached at centre, small damp stain to foot of front doublure, slight toning to contents, faint offsetting to Part IV: a very good, wide-margined copy. Carpenter XXXIV (1); Foxwell, p. 15; Goldsmiths' Owen Exhibition 29; Harrison, p. 271; Kress B.6195; NLW 2-5; Printing and the Mind of Man 271. Édouard Dolléans, Robert Owen, 1907; Peter Gorb, "Robert Owen as a Businessman", Bulletin of the Business Histo.