Discours politiques De Mr. David Hume, Traduits de L'Anglois par Mr. De M

Amsterdam: Chez J. Schreuder, 1754. Full Description:

HUME, David. Discours politiques De Mr. David Hume, Traduits de L'Anglois par Mr. De M. Amsterdam: Chez J. Schreuder, 1754.

First edition of the French translation by Eleazar de Mauvillon. Small octavo (5 7/8 x 3 3/4 inches; 150 x 95 mm). [4], 355, [1, blank] pp. Title-page printed in red and black and with engraved vignette. Engraved initials, head and tail pieces. Also included is a recent commentary volume, with text in German.

Contemporary mottled calf. Spine with tan calf morocco spine label, lettered in gilt. Spine stamped in gilt. All edges red. Board edges tooled (truncated) in gilt. Green silk page marker. Bottom of spine a bit chipped. Front board with a small chip along bottom. Overall a very good copy with text very clean.

This book was the first volume published in a series of economic publications, works all under the general title of Discours politiques. In 1754 Schreuder and Mortier published the first volume, Hume's Political Discourses. Because the level of interest was high in the subject of political economy, they continued on with four other volumes as part of the series. The other volumes were by O'heguerty, Forbonnais, Bolingbroke and Le Blanc.

“The Age of Enlightenment found Hume’s economic and political observations subtle but discerning. As usual, his thought was seminal and provoked much appreciation. In short, after 1752 David Hume was read by a wider circle than could ever possibly had read his metaphysical works” (Mossner).

Of the twelve discourses, seven are on economics: “These discourses turned the search light of rational and historical inquiry upon problems of vast interest to an age that was slowly sloughing itself out of the moribund skin of mercantilism. If these discourses have the virtues of the essay form, they likewise have its vices and lack the connexion and the system of the treatise” (Mossner). “But his two Essays, ‘Of Money’ and ‘Of the Balance of Trade’ form nothing less than the foundation of classical monetary economics” (O’Brien, The Classical Economists, p. 7).

HBS 69059.

$500. (Inventory #: 69059)