Books

Paris: Maurice Lachatre et Cie, [1872-1875]. First French Edition. Large octavo (28.5cm.); original parts bound in early 20th century blue cloth, gilt-lettered spine; 351pp.; pictorial half title and title pages, full-paged steel-engraved portrait and facsimile, additional vignettes throughout; text printed in double column. Boards a bit rubbed and corners bumped, foxing and toning to preliminaries as well as minor dampstaining to last few leaves of text, light foxing to rear cover; overall Very Good and sound. First appearance in French of Marx's "Das Kapital," the translation the only such to have been executed with the collaboration of the author, whose letter to Lachatre appears in facsimile on p. [7]: "J'applaudis à votre idée de publier la traduction de 'Das Kapital' en livraisons périodiques. Sous cette forme l'ouvrage sera plus accessible à la classe ouvrière et pour moi cette considération l'emporte sur toute autre" ("I congratulate you on your idea to publish the…

"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.