READ, Samuel. Political Economy. An Inquiry into the Natural Grounds of Right to Vendible Property, or Wealth. Edinburgh: for the author, 1829. 8°. (Some foxing on preliminary leaves). Contemporary half calf by Carss of Glasgow with his ticket (rebacked and recornered). FIRST EDITION of the major work of Samuel Read, an anti-Ricardian economist. In this work, 'he tried to put certain moral laws against the importance that economists attributed to material wealth. He used the utilitarian calculus as the basis for human action and the determination of economic justice, which included the natural right of the poor to public support. Labour he deemed the foundation and only certain measure of value. But wealth was more than just the product of labour, since accumulated capital and land also contributed to its production', New Palgrave. Kress C.2342; Goldsmiths 25768.