BOESNIER DE L'ORME, [Paul] (1724-1793). De l'esprit du gouvernement économique. Paris: la veuve Hérissant for Debure Frères, 1775. 8° (208 x 130mm). Half-title, engraved title vignette, engraved head- and tail-pieces throughout, with 3pp. privilege at rear. (Occasional very light spotting, narrow stain at upper edge Y4-Dd2 and at lower edge X7-Bb2.) Later French contemporary-style roan-backed marbled boards, gilt spine in compartments with two morocco lettering-pieces (joints cracking, corners rubbed, endpapers browned).

BOESNIER DE L'ORME, [Paul] (1724-1793). De l'esprit du gouvernement économique. Paris: la veuve Hérissant for Debure Frères, 1775. 8° (208 x 130mm). Half-title, engraved title vignette, engraved head- and tail-pieces throughout, with 3pp. privilege at rear. (Occasional very light spotting, narrow stain at upper edge Y4-Dd2 and at lower edge X7-Bb2.) Later French contemporary-style roan-backed marbled boards, gilt spine in compartments with two morocco lettering-pieces (joints cracking, corners rubbed, endpapers browned).

FIRST EDITION. The pupil of Diderot and friend of d'Alembert, who also spent much of his time with Holbach, Boesnier de l'Orme was a respected physiocrat who rejected the idea of total equality whilst embracing free trade. Goldsmiths' 11216; Higgs 6185: 'one of the most systematic and comprehensive expositions of economics of its period'; Kress S4801.