Lettres sur le Commerce des Grains.
1774127684Paris: Chez Couturier père 1774 but 1775. First edition of Condorcet's defence of the free trade of grain. Turgot's liberalisation of the grain trade in 1774 coinciding with bad harvests and rocketing prices led to a fierce pamphlet war between proponents of the mercantilist and free trade schools of thought. Condorcet had written the present tract prior to Turgot's enactment of the policy perhaps to anticipate it but the work was not published until April 1775 in the midst of the troubles and the month before the outbreak of bread riots in Paris. Condorcet would elaborate his ideas further in his 1776 treatise Réflexions sur le commerce des bleds the year in which Turgot was dismissed and liberalisation of the grain trade scaled back. Octavo 181 x 118 mm. Recent marbled boards black calf label. Half-title present. Some offsetting from type a few minor creases discreet repair to tear on p. 8 else a very good copy. INED 1171 bis; Kress 7003. Williams Condorcet and Modernity p. 19. hardcover
Peter Harrington · Royaume-Uni650,00 £GB≈ 742,17 €
