Representacion al Rey N. Señor D. Phelipe V dirigida al mas seguro aumento del Real Erario, y conseguir la felicidad, mayor alivio, riqueza y abundancia de su Monarquia ... Quesolos nuestros esanoles hagan el comercio de la America, trayendose a Espana y circulando en solo ella, los inmensos thesoros que producen aquellos riquissimos reynos

[4]+266 [ie 256] pages. Folio (11 1/2" x 8 1/4") bound in later quarter calf with gilt lettering. (Palau 37815; European Americana 732/256; Sabin 106282) First edition.

This is the true first edition of an important work on the Spanish economy with emphasis on colonial commerce. The text was reprinted in 1738 with the same date as the first; however, it has a different collation (180 leaves) and the preliminaries are dated 5 June 1738 (European Americana, 738/254). The present, true first edition is a scare item. Miguel de Zavala y Aunon, eighteenth century Spanish official and economist, held several public positions: treasurer of the army and the register for real estate (1716-1730), perpetual ruler of Badajoz and superintendent of the paymaster annuities. He also was a member of the Council of Castile. In the present work the author presents his ideas to Philip V on methods to increase the treasury through the trade of agricultural goods in Spain and the West Indies. He expresses his economic theories in which he proposed the abolition of provincial revenue which would be replaced by a direct tax on land and the taxing of individuals (a type of income tax). Proposing freeing up the establishment of trading companies in agricultural goods and the implementation of neo-mercantilist trade ideas with their American colonies which would control capital movement and centralize currency decisions in the hands of the central government in order to increase the level of foreign reserves. In particular he wanted to increase the volume of commerce within Spain and with the American colonies by restricting it to Spanish trading companies. Included are descriptions of the trade in tobacco, cacao, gold, silver, etc.

Condition:

Minor wear, corners repaired, minor foxing, minor soiling, lone wormhole in margin else a very good copy.