SMITH (Adam). Recherches sur la nature et les causes de la r - Lot 32

Lot n° 32
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SMITH (Adam). Recherches sur la nature et les causes de la r - Lot 32
SMITH (Adam). Recherches sur la nature et les causes de la richesse des nations. In Paris, with Mme veuve Agasse, 1822. 6 volumes in-8, half calf black glazed, spines decorated with cold and gilt designs, marbled edges, spines faded, rare marginal spotting, some foxing (Coméderan). ONE OF THE MAJOR WORKS OF THE ECONOMIC DISCIPLINE. Second edition of this translation, largely original for the commentary by Germain Garnier. Portrait-frontispiece engraved on copper. THE FRENCH TRANSLATION HAS REMAINED THE STANDARD FOR NEARLY TWO CENTURIES. The original English edition had appeared in 1776, and three French translations had followed one another from 1776 to 1791. The one provided by Germain Garnier in 1802 quickly became the best, partly because, as an economist, he himself had an intimate knowledge of the subject matter, and partly because he provided an important critical apparatus including a long preface and numerous comments, which were further expanded in the present second edition (the "notes" occupy the entire last two volumes). In this personal contribution, Germain Garnier defended Adam Smith's theories against David Ricardo or Thomas Malthus, and presented them as complementary to those of the physiocrats. The preface was of interest even beyond the borders of France and was the subject of an English translation published in several editions of Adam Smith in England and the United States. GERMAIN GARNIER (1754-1821) was an economist and a disciple of RICHARD CANTILLON, and one of the founders of the French liberal school. He was initially a prosecutor at the Châtelet and secretary to Madame Adélaïde, the king's aunt. Elected deputy to the States General in 1789, he declared himself in favour of a constitutional monarchical regime, was a member of the monarchist club of the Impartials in 1790, and refused the Ministry of Justice in 1792, before leaving for emigration. On his return, he held an official position under the Consulate and the Empire: appointed prefect of Seine-et-Oise in 1800, he entered the Senate in 1804, presided over it from 1809 to 1811, and was made a count. However, he voted for the defection of the emperor in 1814, and continued his career under the Restoration, being made a peer of France, marquis, minister of state, member of the Privy Council. HE PUBLISHED NUMEROUS ECONOMIC WORKS, INCLUDING THE FIRST SCHOOL TEXTBOOK ON POLITICAL ECONOMY (1796). VERY FINE ROMANTIC BINDING SIGNED BY COMÉLERAN.
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