Beschreibung:

EDEN, Sir Frederic Morton (1766-1809). The State of the Poor: or, an history of the labouring classes in England, from the conquest to the present period. London: J.Davis for B. & J.White, G.G. & J.Robinson and others, 1797. 3 volumes, 4° (280 x 223mm). Collation: Vol.I: 4 A-D 4 B-4L 4 (half-title [verso blank], title [verso blank], 1p. contents list [verso blank], 1p. 'ommissions in vol.I' with errata to vols.I-III on verso, pp.[i]-xxxi preface [verso of final leaf blank], pp.[1]-632 text). Vol.II: s4 B-3K 4 3L 4(2+1) 3M-4S 4, 4T 4(3,4 in vol.III) (Half-title [verso blank], title [verso blank], pp.[v]-viii contents list, pp.[1]-444, 443*-444*, 445-692 text). Vol.III: s4 4T 4(1,2 in vol.II) 4U-5B 4 5B* 4 5B+ 4 5C-5Y 4 A -3 H 4 (Half-title [verso blank], title [verso blank], pp.[v]-viii contents list, pp.693-744, 737*-744*, 737+-744+, 745-904 text, pp.[i]-ccccviii appendix, pp.ccccix-ccccxxx index, 'directions to the binder' [verso blank]). One folding letterpress table between pp.viii and ix of the appendix in vol.III. (O4 in vol.II with lower outer blank corner torn away and repaired, occasional light spotting and dust-soiling.) Contemporary marbled boards, uncut (neatly rebacked to style with drab paper, inner hinges strengthened). A FINE UNSOPHISTICATED COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF A WORK THAT MARKS "THE BEGINNING OF SOCIOLOGY.., [AND IS] ONE OF THE CLASSIC WORKS IN THE HISTORY OF ECONOMICS" (PMM). "EDEN WAS LED TO EMBARK ON THE SUBJECT BY THE HIGH PRICES BROUGHT ON BY THE WAR IN 1794 AND 1795, AND THE EFFECT THEY HAD ON THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE POORER CLASSES... THE RESULTS WERE PUBLISHED IN THREE VOLUMES; THE FIRST CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE LABOURING CLASSES AND AN ANALYSIS OF ITS CAUSES; THE OTHER TWO THE SUPPORTING FACTS... WITH A LENGTHY SERIES OF APPENDIXES..." ( OP.CIT. ). THE FACTS THAT EDEN USED TO SUPPORT HIS ARGUMENTS ARE NOW PERHAPS MORE VALUABLE THAN HIS CONCLUSIONS, BUT THE MOST VALUABLE ASPECT OF ALL IS THE MODEL THAT HIS WORK PROVIDED OF HOW TO OBTAIN AND ANALYSE DETAILED FACTS ABOUT SUCH A DIFFUSE PROBLEM. HIS METHOD "HAS PROVED THE BASIS OF SOCIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION EVER SINCE" ( OP.CIT. ). KARL MARX CONSIDERED HIM TO BE THE ONLY PUPIL OF ADAM SMITH, IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, TO HAVE ACHIEVED ANYTHING OF NOTE. KRESS B-3384; PMM 249. (3)