AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. With a life of the Author, Also a view of the doctrine of Smith, compared with that of the French Economists; with a method of facilitating the study of his works; from the French of M. Garnier by SMITH. ADAM

Alfred A. Knopf. New York.,1992-98. FIRST EDITIONS. 1st impressions. Three Volumes. 8vo. (8.6 x 6.1 inches). Fine, bright copies in the publishers fine original dustwrappers, designed by Chip Kidd. A fine set of true first editons of this hugely popular trilogy. There is some confusion about a probable trial issue dustwrapper for the first title, with no advance praise notices on the lower panel and lacking the blue capital letter 'A' at the start of the blurb inside the front flap. This wrapper was not officially issued with the published book. The first edition wrapper, as issued on day of publication, has the price of $21.00 on the inner front flap and the number code '5/92' at the bottom of the inner rear flap. The wrapper on All the Pretty horses in this set has both of these points.

Au Bureau de l'Ami des Enfans, Rue de l'Universite, au coin de celle du Ba, No.28. d'adresse a M. Le Prince, Directeur. 1784. FIRST FRENCH EDITION. 6mo. (5.1 x 3.5 inches). 3 parts in one volume. 184,108,116pp. Finely bound in recent full dark green panelled calf. Spine with raised bands. Compartments ruled and lettered in gilt. A very good copy. Published 2 years after the English edition.

Henry and Co. London. 1893. FIRST EDITION. Octavo. Original blue buckram, lettered in gilt. Housed in a custom green cloth slipcase and chemise. Small bookplate to front pastedown, related bibiliographic material pasted to endpapers. Shaw's very scarce first play, published in an edition, according to Laurence, of "not more than 500" copies. It was not an overwhelming bestseller. Shaw wrote to John Lane (quoted in Laurence) that the publisher "never advertised it even once; and the sale, which was only effected by great perseverance & determination on the part of the purchasers, was 150 copies." When the publisher retired in December 1897, they ceded to Shaw 194 sets of unbound sheets, which Shaw claimed to have commissioned Sotheran & Co. to bind for him. "So few of these [in purple cloth] in the Sotheran binding have turned up, however, that it is unlikely Shaw had all of the copies bound; a considerable number must eventually have been pulped â¦" Copies in green cloth have been noted as well,… Read More

William Heinemann Ltd. London. 1961. THREE VOLUMES. Reprint of the 1951 Edition. 8vo. (8.1 x 5.7 inches). Fine and clean set in attractive leather bindings by Bayntun of Bath. Contemporary full blue polished calf. Spines with five raised bands, each with gilt decorative roll. The compartments are ruled, lettered and fully decorated in gilt. Red and green labels, gilt. Double gilt ruled border on boards. Board edges with decorative floral gilt roll. Inner gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. Housed in a blue paper coveredslip case which has some minor wear but has done its job of keeping the books protected. The slip case is felt lined and has a beige silk tie pull. The spines are just a touch faded and there are a couple of small scratches but overall this is an attractive and finely bound set of this important collection.

John Lane at the sign of the Bodley Head in Vigo Street. London. 1894. FIRST EDITION, First Impression; one of just 500 copies. Square 8vo. (8.4 X 6.3 inches). Pages a bit toned but overall a very good copy bound in recent full tan morocco leather binding. Spine with raised bands, two red morocco labels, gilt. Single gilt ruled border on boards. Top edge gilt. Adverts dated March 1894 at the end. Original publishers decorative pale purple cloth boards and spine, designed by Charles Shannon, bound in at the rear.

Printed Privately. Confidential.,1909. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. 56pp. One of only 250 copies privately printed by R. & R. Clark of Edinburgh. Inscribed by Shaw on the half title page to Frances Noyes Hart; "The Committee refused to accept this statement; and there was a very pretty row about it which is fully described in the preface to the Shewing up of Blanco Posnet. G. Bernard Shaw. London. 3rd Oct. 1931. To Frances Noyes Hart". A fine copy in original blue stiff card wrappers printed in black to upper cover. Housed in a blue vellum chemise which is lettered in gilt, reproducing the exact lettering, even using the same typeface, as the printed front cover. This is then housed in a quarter green morocco slip case with raised bands and gilt rules and lettering to the spine. The slip case is rubbed and worn but has done its job of keeping the booklet and chemise in fine condition. Frances Noyes Hart was an American short story writer. She became famous after winning the Pulizer prize for her 1927 Crime… Read More

Printed for J. Johnson, C. Dilly, G. C and J. Robinson, etc......London. 1799. TWO VOLUMES. 4to. (11.3 x 9.8 inches). Eighth edition, corrected and Revised. Portrait frontispiece in volume one engraved by Heath after the painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds and dated January 1st, 1799. A very good clean set. Finely bound in period style mid twentieth century full brown calf. Boards with single gilt ruled borders. Spines with double ruled gilt bands and lettering. Gilt inner dentelles. Marbled endpapers with a neat previous owners bookplate mounted in each volume. All edges marbled. An attractive copy.

Philip Lee Warner, Publisher to the Medici Society, for the Riccardi Press, London. 1914. LIMITED EDITION. Large 8vo. (9.3 x 6.6 inches). One of 1000 hand-numbered copies printed in the Riccardi Fount on handmade Riccardi Paper. Fine leather binding of recent full deep red morocco. Spine with five raised bands, ruled in gilt. Compartments ruled, lettered and decorated with March Hare and Playing cards motifs in gilt, with floral gilt surrounds. Ruled gilt border on boards. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. A bright and clean copy of this lovely edition, beautifully printed on fine quality hand made paper and in a decorative leather binding. ----- This edition was published by arrangement with Macmillan and Company using Carroll's revised text of 1896. The wonderful Tenniel illustrations are printed from fresh electros taken from the original wood-blocks, with four being slightly enlarged from the original block designs.

William Heinemann Ltd. London. 1953. FIRST EDITION. THREE VOLUMES. 8vo. (8.1 x 5.4 inches). Fine set in attractive leather bindings of recent full red morocco, the spines with five raised bands. The compartments are ruled, lettered and decorated in gilt. Top edges gilt. A finely bound set of this important collection.

William Heinemann Ltd. London. 1961. THREE VOLUMES. Reprint of the 1951 Edition. 8vo. (8 x 5.4 inches). Fine and clean set in the rare Publishers delux leather bindings of full red Morocco. Spines with blind ruled bands and lettered in gilt. Gilt stamped Author's symbol device to the front boards. Blue marbled endpapers. Top edges gilt. Each volume with a red silk page marker. Housed in a red cloth covered slip case with marbled paper lining. The spines are a bit rubbed and there are a couple of small scratches but overall this is an attractive set of this important collection. Only a few sets were issued in these publishers delux leather bindings and they seldom turn up on the market.