London: John W. Parker and Son, West Strand, 1852. Third edition. Two volumes.
An important lifetime edition of John Stuart Mill’s major work of political economy, substantially revised from the earlier editions and reflecting his developing views on property, socialism and the condition of the labouring classes.
Two volumes. Vol. I: pp. xx + 604; Vol. II: pp. xv + 571 + [1], with 4 pp. publisher’s advertisements. Octavo. Publisher’s original green cloth with blind-ruled borders, original printed paper spine labels, edges untrimmed.
First published in 1848, Principles of Political Economy became one of the central nineteenth-century works of classical economics, bringing together Mill’s treatment of production, distribution, exchange, social progress and the role of government. For this third edition Mill revised the text throughout, materially altering several chapters. Most notably, the chapter on property was substantially rewritten, with Mill adopting a more open treatment of socialist ideas, while further changes addressed Irish landholding, international values and the future of the labouring classes.
Original cloth worn, marked and faded, with rubbing and fraying to extremities. Printed spine labels browned, rubbed and chipped but largely legible. Hinges weakened, with cracking visible at the front of volume I; bindings remain together. Pages untrimmed and browned at the edges, with scattered foxing, heavier to preliminary leaves. Both volumes bear an early ownership inscription of E. Butler, dated August 1857; later institutional stamps to the title pages.
A complete set of the third edition in the uncommon original publisher’s cloth, retaining its printed spine labels and early ownership inscriptions despite substantial age and wear.
