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The State of the Poor:

or a history of the labouring classes in England, from the Conquest to the present period; in which are particularly considered, their domestic economy, with respect to diet, dress, fuel, and habitation; and the various plans which, from time to time, have been proposed and adopted for the relief of the poor: together with parochial reports relative to the administration of work-houses, and houses of industry; the state of the Friendly Societies, and other public institutions; in several agricultural, commercial and manufacturing, districts. With a large appendix; containing a comparative and chronological table of the prices of labour, of provisions, and of other commodities; an account of the poor in Scotland; and many original documents on subjects of national importance.

Author:

EDEN, Sir Frederick Morton.

Title:

Published:

1797

Publisher:

London, by J. Davis, for B. & J. White, G. & G. Robinson, T. Payne [& 4 others in London],

Stock Code:

34289

Price:

£10,000.00

First Edition of this classic of social and economic analysis, the fruits of Eden’s pioneering and privately-financed inquiry begun during the period of acute grain scarcity in 1794–5, which gives unrivalled statistical and anecdotal data on contemporary living standards. Eden was an adherent to Adam Smith's system of natural liberty in economic affairs; “this led Karl Marx to claim that Eden was the only eighteenth-century disciple of Smith to produce a work of any significance” (ODNB).

3 volumes, 4to. Skilfully rebound to Regency style in full diced calf, spines gilt in compartments between wide raised bands, sides with elaborate wide borders in gilt and in blind, marbled endpapers, all edges uncut. Complete with half-titles and all extra leaves (3L3, v.2; 5B*–5B†4, v.3). Contemporary engraved bookplates of Robert Whitehead, Queen’s College, Oxford, on titles verso. A few trivial blemishes or very faint stains, but an excellent copy, the edges entirely untrimmed.