Tracy, Destutt, fl. 1817 A Treatise on Political Economy [edited by Jefferson]

First American edition of this important economic work. Translation of French work. Ownership signature of Archibald Austin, a Virginia lawyer who was retained sometimes by Jefferson. The translation from the original French was gone over and corrected by Thomas Jefferson, whose letter of transmittal 25 October 1818 to Milligan (the publisher) is printed in the prefatory material. A scarce Jefferson item, the English translation of Tracy's Treatise was extensively revised by Jefferson, who also provided an introduction to the volume in the form of a letter to the publisher: "The merit of the work will, I hope, place it in the hands of every reader in our country. By diffusing sound principles of Political Economy, it will protect the public industry from the parasite institutions now consuming it...." American Imprints 42317; Sabin 96415. Shaw & Shoemaker 40653.