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three old books are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean old book with a black and white title on itthree old books sitting on top of each other on a white surfacean open book with a black and white title on itfour books stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean old book with black writing on it sitting on top of a tablean old book with a black and white image of the title of a poem
KÂ- MONDO / KAPANDJI MORHANGE

270 - SMITH, Adam and ROUCHER, Jean-Antoine.
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Estimate €300 - €400
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Description
SMITH, Adam and ROUCHER, Jean-Antoine. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Paris, published by Buisson, 1790–91. In-12 (19.5 x 12.5 cm), tan sheepskin, plain spine, title label pasted on, fine gilt fleurons. Contemporary binding. 4 vols.: xi–570 pp. – 312 pp. – 602 pp. – 591 pp. Scuffing to the caps. First edition of the translation by the poet Jean-Antoine Roucher of Adam Smith’s seminal work, based on the fourth English edition, published in 1786, ten years after the original. The volume of notes by Condorcet mentioned in the title was never published – nor, it seems, ever written. Two other complete translations of the work had appeared previously: the first, anonymous, in 1778–1779; the second, by Jean-Louis Blavet, in 1781. This work is regarded as the first and most important treatise on modern economic thought. In it, Smith sets out his analysis of the origins of the recent prosperity of certain countries, such as England and the Netherlands. He develops economic theories on the division of labour, the market, money, the nature of wealth, the ‘price of goods in labour’, wages, profits and the accumulation of capital. He examines various systems of political economy, in particular mercantilism and physiocracy. He also develops the idea of a natural order, the ‘system of natural liberty’, resulting from individual self-interest being channelled into the common good through the workings of free enterprise, free competition and free trade. *The Wealth of Nations* remains to this day one of the most important socio-political-economic works in this discipline. It is the founding text of classical economic theory and, according to some, of economic liberalism. A fine copy.
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About the sale Collectors’ books for sale – First editions – Illustrated editions – Varia IV
Auction location
Auction time 11/02/2026 at 2:00 PM
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