![QUESNAY, François (1694-1774). Physiocratie, ou constitution naturelle du gouvernement le plus avantageux au genre humain [Discussions et développemens sur quelques-unes des notions de l'économie politique. Pour servir de seconde partie au recueil intitulé: Physiocratie], edited by Pierre Samuel Dupont. Leiden et se trouve à Paris, chez Merlin, 1768-67. 2 volumes with continuous signatures and pagination, 8°. Woodcut title-vignettes, half-title in vol.I (engraved frontispiece in facsimile, first 2 leaves of vol.II repaired at head with a few letters being rubbed on title-verso). Modern old-style wrappers, uncut, board chemises and slipcases. Provenance: Etienne-François, marquis d'Aligre (1726-1798, armorial bookplate in vol.I).](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2007/CSK/2007_CSK_05136_0048_000(014340).jpg?w=1)
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QUESNAY, François (1694-1774). Physiocratie, ou constitution naturelle du gouvernement le plus avantageux au genre humain [Discussions et développemens sur quelques-unes des notions de l'économie politique. Pour servir de seconde partie au recueil intitulé: Physiocratie], edited by Pierre Samuel Dupont. Leiden et se trouve à Paris, chez Merlin, 1768-67. 2 volumes with continuous signatures and pagination, 8°. Woodcut title-vignettes, half-title in vol.I (engraved frontispiece in facsimile, first 2 leaves of vol.II repaired at head with a few letters being rubbed on title-verso). Modern old-style wrappers, uncut, board chemises and slipcases. Provenance: Etienne-François, marquis d'Aligre (1726-1798, armorial bookplate in vol.I).
FIRST EDITION, 'Leyde' issue of the 'Bible' of the Physiocrats, 'the small group of French economists and political philosophers who were known in their own day as Les économistes ... Quesnay ... Mirabeau, Mercier de la Rivière, Le Trosne, Baudeau and Dupont', Schumpeter, p.223, and one of the most important and original works on political economy to be published before The Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith owned a copy of the work, presented to him by Quesnay, whom he described as 'ingenious and profound, a man of the greatest simplicity and modesty', while pronouncing Quesnay's system to be 'with all its imperfections, perhaps the nearest approximation to the truth that has yet been published upon the subject of political economy'. The marquis d'Aligre, owner of this copy, was appointed advisor to the Parlement de Paris in 1745, and rose to the position of first president in 1768. He fled to London via Brussels during the Revolution, depositing his substantial fortune with the Bank of England. Einaudi 4431; Goldsmiths' 10391; Kress 6548. (2)
FIRST EDITION, 'Leyde' issue of the 'Bible' of the Physiocrats, 'the small group of French economists and political philosophers who were known in their own day as Les économistes ... Quesnay ... Mirabeau, Mercier de la Rivière, Le Trosne, Baudeau and Dupont', Schumpeter, p.223, and one of the most important and original works on political economy to be published before The Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith owned a copy of the work, presented to him by Quesnay, whom he described as 'ingenious and profound, a man of the greatest simplicity and modesty', while pronouncing Quesnay's system to be 'with all its imperfections, perhaps the nearest approximation to the truth that has yet been published upon the subject of political economy'. The marquis d'Aligre, owner of this copy, was appointed advisor to the Parlement de Paris in 1745, and rose to the position of first president in 1768. He fled to London via Brussels during the Revolution, depositing his substantial fortune with the Bank of England. Einaudi 4431; Goldsmiths' 10391; Kress 6548. (2)
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