AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE WEALTH OF NATIONS.

2 volumes. FIRST EDITION: ‘No printing record of the first edition has survived, but it is probable that the press run was either 500 or 750 copies’ (Richard B. Sher, ‘Early editions of Adam Smith’s books in Britain and Ireland, 1759–1804’, A Critical Bibliography of Adam Smith, ed. Keith Tribe, 2002, p. 19). Provenance J. C. by a contemporary hand. 4to ( 256 x 210mm); (10 1/16 x 8 1/4 inches), handsomely bound in contemporary mottled calf, the boards framed in blind, the spine panels expertly and very skillfully restored at a later date to style with double-gilt ruled bands and red morocco labels gilt trimmed and lettered, gilt volume numbers in a separate compartment, board edges trimmed in gilt in Greek key design, original endleaves. [12], 510 pp.; [1], [2], 587, [588, ads] pp. Volume I: A(4) a(2) B-Z, Aa-Zz, 3A-3S(4) -3T(3); without final blank; Volume II: Half-Title, A(1) B-Z, Aa-Zz, Aaa-Zzz, 4A-4E(4) 4F(2). With the usual cancels: M3, Q1, U3, 2Z3 and 3A4 in Vol. I, cancels D1 and 3Z4 in Vol. II. In Vol. II p. 288 is misprinted as 289. A very handsome set, quite stately, internally very clean and with minimal mellowing. Vol. II with a very small, neat, expert paper restoration to the outer corner of I3 and Y4-Z3. These restorations may have been required because of paper faults and measure only 1/2 - 1 inch in size. They are unobtrusive, as is 2F1 with an antique neatly repaired closed tear at the foot of the page, an interesting and attractive old ownership stamp at the blank foot of the half-title in Vol. II.