Offered here is a scarce and important 1793 seventh edition of Adam Smith’s landmark work in political economy, The Wealth of Nations—a foundational text in modern economic thought. Published just 17 years after the 1776 first edition, this set exemplifies Smith’s enduring influence on the philosophical and fiscal frameworks of the late Enlightenment. Key features of this seventh edition include Statistical Tables, vol. I with advertisement to both the third and fourth editions, Appendix to end vol. II, index and final page advertisement to end of vol. III for Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments."
Key Details:
- Author: Adam Smith
- Title: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
- Publisher: Printed for A. Strahan and T. Cadell
- Publication Date: 1793
- Place: London
- Format: Octavo, 3 volumes
- Pagination: x, 499; vi, 518 [5]; v, [1], 465 [51] [1] pp.
Binding & Appearance:
Period calf bindings professionally rebacked in later calf, ruled in gilt with Morocco spine labels. A handsome and dignified shelf presence, retaining much of its original charm.
Condition Report:
Volumes show expected signs of age and handling. Boards are scuffed with edge wear and some corner loss. Joints cracked in places; volume III has new spine labels, a few leather repairs to spines. Light toning to page edges and intermittent spotting throughout.
Significance:
As Printing and the Mind of Man notes (PMM 221, referencing the first edition), The Wealth of Nations is “the first and greatest classic of modern economic thought.” This 1793 edition captures the text’s ascendancy during a period of profound political and economic upheaval. It remains highly desirable for collectors of Enlightenment literature, political economy, and historically significant works of Western thought