The Theory of Moral Sentiments. To which is added a dissertation on the origin of languages.

SMITH, Adam.

Published by London Printed for A. Millar A. Kincaid and J. Bell in Edinburgh; and sold by T. Cadell in the Strand, 1767

Third edition, revised with additional essay; 8vo (20.5 x 13.5 cm); publisher's device to title, old piece in pen to front pastedown, front free endpaper excised, occasional light spotting; contemporary calf, spine in 6 gilt banded compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece, covers a little soiled and abraded with slight loss, joints and corners a little rubbed, small nick to spine head-cap, a very good unrestored example; [8], 478pp. The scarce third edition of Adam Smith's first published book, which laid the seedbed for his Wealth of Nations. Smith devoted the years from 1755 to 1759 to writing and publishing The Theory of Moral Sentiments, having been appointed Professor of Logic at the University of Glasgow in 1751 and elected Professor of Moral Philosophy a year later. It was this period at Glasgow which Smith was later to describe as 'the period of thirteen years which I spent as a member of that society I remember as by far the most useful, and, therefore, as by far the happiest and most honourable period of my life'. First published in 1759, the book immediately established Smith's reputation as a serious scholar worthy of international acclaim. The most significant change to take effect in this the third edition was the inclusion for the first time of Smith's essay on the origin of languages, titled in full 'Considerations concerning the first formation of Languages, and the different genius of original and compounded Languages', which had previously been published in The Philological Miscellany in 1761. Other minor revisions were made to the passages involving comment on religion. ESTC T122844; Rothschild 1895; Mizuta 4. Seller Inventory # 119896

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Theory of Moral Sentiments. To which is ...
Publisher: London Printed for A. Millar A. Kincaid and J. Bell in Edinburgh; and sold by T. Cadell in the Strand
Publication Date: 1767
Binding: Hardcover