De l'Administration des finances de la France

First edition. Carpenter, who compiled a bibliography of Necker's principal works (Economic Bestsellers before 1850), specifies that there were 7 issues of the first edition. The first contain errata and the following ones have the errors corrected. This edition contains errata in each volume, a folding table at the end of volume I with populations and contributions, a 3-page supplement at the end of volume II citing the 1784 edict on finances. This issue with different collation and smaller format is very rarely encountered.
Contemporary full blonde marbled sheep binding. Raised band spine decorated. Title and volume labels in beige calf. Small fragment of leather missing from the upper joint at the head of volume I. On the upper board of volume I, nibbling marks. A black stain on the volume label of volume I. A fragment of leather missing at the tail of volume III. Rubbing, particularly to corners. Paper generally relatively fresh, with beige matter on page 37 in volume I, which nevertheless leaves the characters visible. In the margin of each title page, manuscript name in ink, Victoire Corneillan. Handsome copy.
A major and unparalleled work of political economy, undoubtedly the only one presenting a state of the kingdom's finances before the Revolution. Originally a banker but appointed minister of finances during three periods (1777-1781, 1788-1789, 1789-1790), Necker remained famous for his opposition to physiocratic theses and his adherence to neo-mercantilism. He changed economic methods to restore France's finances, not by raising taxes but by increasing interest rates and taxes on imported goods.