Books

Das Kapital, Kritik der politischen Oekonomie. Vol. I: Der Produktionsprocess des Kapitals. Hamburg: Verlag Otto Meissner, 1872. [2], 830 pp. Vol. II: Der Zirkulationsprocess des Kapitals. Edited by F. Engels. Hamburg: Verlag Otto Meissner, 1885. xxvii [1], 526, [2] pp. 8vo (207 x 137 mm). Both volumes uniformly bound in contemporary half calf, spines with 4 raised bands, gilt decoated and gilt lettered (vol. I with head of spine partially chipped, light rubbing to extremities, rubbing to spine of vol. II), marbled edges. Text of vol. I with light marginal browning, scattered foxing and frequent pencil markings, vol. II little age-toned only and with no visible foxing. Provenance: bookplates of unknown owner to front pastedowns, one with motto "Aut mors aut vita decora". A very good set, rarely found in unform bindings. ---- PMM 359 (first ed. vol. I only); Rubel 633, 635-636 - SECOND EDITION of Vol. I and FIRST EDITION of Vol. II OF ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE MODERN ERA. Only the first edition of vol. I was published in Marx's lifetime; his friend and supporter Friedrich Engels edited and published volume II in 1885 and volume III in 1894. "The history of the twentieth century is Marx's legacy. Stalin, Mao, Che, Castro -- the icons and monsters of the modern age have all presented themselves as his heirs. Whether he would recognize them as such is quite another matter. Within one hundred years of his death half the world's population was ruled by governments that professed Marxism to be their guiding faith. His ideas have transformed the study of economics, history, geography, sociology and literature" (Wheen). Marx's great polemic was the summation of his quarter of a century of economic studies, mostly at the British Museum. - Visit our website for additional images and information.

"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.