Recherches et considérations sur les finances de France depuis l'année 1595 jusqu'à l'année 1721

First edition. Adorned with headpieces, initials, and illustrated with 16 folding tables, 3 in the first volume and 13 in the second, together with a great number of tables on single leaves. Title pages printed in red and black.
Contemporary full polished and marbled brown calf binding. Spine with raised bands, gilt compartments. Red morocco title label. Volume labels in wax, rubbed and illegible. Triple blind fillet framing on the covers. Red marbled edges. Headcaps worn. Loss to the tail of volume II. Joints of volume I split at head and tail. Upper joint of volume I tightly split along its full length and lower joint split at head and tail. Several corners bumped. Spines rubbed. Some surface abrasions to the covers. Dampstain to the lower margin of the endpaper and half-title, with losses. At the foot of the title page, an old dampstain extending across three leaves. Overall, a relatively fresh copy, with some scattered foxing.

A fundamental work of economic history. Forbonnais not only records financial events, year by year, from Sully to Law (his analysis of Law's system would remain a reference well into the mid-19th century), but also offers judicious and impartial criticism, while anticipating the physiocrats in stressing the importance of agriculture and industry for the development of any society. Forbonnais had access to the Colbert family papers and the royal library manuscripts; numerous valuable documents (edicts, ordinances, etc.) are thus incorporated into the work. The writing is moreover of great distinction, making this a primary source for the study of public finance in France under the Ancien Régime.