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Extremely rare example of a Russian index librorum for public libraries, recording the first - and rather late - attempt to censor the works of Marx, listing the first two volumes of Das Kapital, being the first edition of volume one in Russian (1872), and the first edition of volume two (1885). Scarce, no other examples traced on WorldCat or KVK. "By an odd quirk of history the first foreign translation of Das Kapital to appear was the Russian, which Petersburgers found in their bookshops early in April 1872. Giving his imprimatur, the censor, one Skuratov, had written, 'few people in Russia will read it, and still fewer will understand it.' He was wrong; the edition of three thousand sold out quickly; and in 1880 Marx was writing to his friend F. A. Sorge that 'our success is still greater in Russia, where Kapital is read and appreciated more than anywhere else'" (PMM). As the worker's movement gained momentum, it was decided to censor Kapital. This pamphlet, based on a resolution dated 1 January 1894, selects works for removal and destruction from public libraries and reading rooms, and was intended strictly for internal use; a printed note forbids further publications or other disclosure of any part of it. Among other famous works affected by this censor's ban are Tolstoy's Kreutzer Sonata in all editions, translations of various works by Herbert Spencer, John Stuart Mill, Emile Zola, and works on socialism such as The Eight Hours Day by Sidney Webb and Extremely rare example of a Russian index librorum for public libraries, recording the first - and rather late - attempt to censor the works of Marx, listing the first two volumes of Das Kapital, being the first edition of volume one in Russian (1872), and the first edition of volume two (1885). Scarce, no other examples traced on WorldCat or KVK. "By an odd quirk of history the first foreign translation of Das Kapital to appear was the Russian, which Petersburgers found in their bookshops early in April 1872. Giving his imprimatur, the censor, one Skuratov, had written, 'few people in Russia will read it, and still fewer will understand it.' He was wrong; the edition of three thousand sold out quickly; and in 1880 Marx was writing to his friend F. A. Sorge that 'our success is still greater in Russia, where Kapital is read and appreciated more than anywhere else'" (PMM). As the worker's movement gained momentum, it was decided to censor Kapital. This pamphlet, based on a resolution dated 1 January 1894, selects works for removal and destruction from public libraries and reading rooms, and was intended strictly for internal use; a printed note forbids further publications or other disclosure of any part of it. Among other famous works affected by this censor's ban are Tolstoy's Kreutzer Sonata in all editions, translations of various works by Herbert Spencer, John Stuart Mill, Emile Zola, and works on socialism such as The Eight Hours Day by Sidney Webb and Harold Cox. Also included was a translation of James Bryce, The American Commonwealth. READ MORE Octavo (242 x 168 mm). Original buff wrappers printed in black, 16 pp., sewn. Previous ownership stamp of A. Martynov to title page in purple ink. Wrappers creased with some marks, three small closed tears to extremities, contents toned, else a fresh copy of a fragile publication. See Printing and the Mind of Man 359 (first edition of the first volume of Das Kapital).

"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.