Books

Hamburg 1883-1885,: Verlag von Otto Meissner, 1883. Book. Very Good Plus. Half Faux Leather. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. xxiii, (1), 808, xxvii, 526 pages. Two volumes, The 3rd revised edition of the first volume of Das Kapital , edited by Friedrich Engels after the death of Karl Marx , with First Edition of the second volume of Kapital, edited by Engels and published 1885. .Newly rebound in half maroon faux leather over red linen boards, spine embossed similar to the original, new parchment end papers, the title and final pages of both volumes now ensconced in rice paper due to brittle paper. The faint embossed stamp of Indianapolis Public Library at title pages, also stamped Indianapolis Public Library bottom edge of page blocks, pencil gift markings at copyright pages, no other markings, internally clean, bright and unmarked. RARE early printing (third revised edition) of the first volume and a 1st Ed. of the second volume of this foundational work of materialist philosophy,…

"Das Kapital," written by Karl Marx, is a seminal work critiquing the capitalist system's foundations and mechanisms. Published in 1867, this extensive analysis of capitalism delves into its economic processes, the exploitation inherent within, and its eventual contradictions which Marx believed would lead to its downfall. Marx introduces key concepts such as commodity, value, surplus value, and the labor theory of value, arguing that the value of a commodity is determined by the labor required for its production. He criticizes how capitalists profit by exploiting workers, paying them less than the value of their labor while selling the products for their full value. Marx's critique extends to the dynamics of capital accumulation, technological advancements, and their effects on the proletariat, predicting increasing capital centralization and crises stemming from capitalism's internal contradictions. "Das Kapital" covers the circulation and distribution of capital, explaining how surplus value is divided among different classes and sectors, leading to cycles of boom and bust. Despite its influence, "Das Kapital" has faced criticism for its total failure in economic predictions, such as the underestimation of capitalism's adaptability and the overemphasis on the labor theory of value. Critics argue Marx's predictions of escalating class struggle and the proletariat revolution have not materialized as expected, questioning his views on human nature and the efficiency of market mechanisms. Nonetheless, "Das Kapital" remains a pivotal work in economic and political thought, offering a deep, if wrong, critique of capitalism and its socio-economic impacts.