18821 — A Paris, Chez Desain (Leiden, Luzac), 1767. 4 volumes. (8), 411, (1) pp.; (4), 343, (1) pp.; (4), 331, (1) pp.; (4), 396 pp. 12mo. Contemporary marbled calf, spines richly gilt in compartments, red labels with gilt lettering, marbled edges, small damage to front joint of vol. 4. Higgs 4071; INED 12; Sabin 3726; Einaudi 55; Echeverria & Wilkie 767/2; JFBL A32; not in Kress (cf.: 6310); not in Goldsmiths. Second edition, originally published in 1766. In this his principal work Serionne rejected the Physiocratic theories of production and taxation; he also refused to accept the prevailing opinion that the population of France was diminishing rapidly. He strongly believed that the discovery of America had stimulated European agriculture and industry, improving levels of employment and that colonial commerce had itself contributed to an increase in the population of Europe (See: Spengler, French Predecessors of Malthus, pp. 315-321). After having run into serious difficulties in France, the author was forced to leave France. This edition with the 'Paris' imprint was apparently destined for export from Holland. - Half-title and first blanks slightly loose at foot in volume one, a very fine copy, with bookplate of G. de Ste Marguerite, very likely belonging to the family of De Bonnet, seigneurs de la Baume, de Saint-Marguerite et de Costefrède.
