Trade.- Davenant (Charles) Discourses on the Publick Revneues, and on the Trade of England, 2 vol., first edition, vol.1 with half-title and final advertisement leaf, 4 folding tables, contemporary ink signature of Jacob Joye to head of titles, very occasional foxing, 1698; An Essay upon the Probable Methods of making a People Gainers in the Ballance of Trade, second edition, 6 folding tables, lightly browned, 1699, both with engraved bookplate of Lord Sandys, uniform contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt, spines gilt in compartments with red morocco labels, rubbed, spines of the first neatly repaired at head, spine ends of the second chipped, [Einaudi 1435, first title only; Goldsmiths' 3523 & 3651; Kress 2074 & 2116; Wing D306 & D310], 8vo, for James Knapton (3)

⁂ Important late 17th century works on economics. Sir Charles Davenant (1656-1714), M.P. and, at the end of this life, Inspector-General of Exports and Imports, took many years to become recognized as an economist of the first rank, a fact explained by the sophistication of his thought. Part I of the Discourses contains five essays, on 'Political Arithmetic', credit, and other matters of public finance; Part II contains essays on trade including Essay on the East-India Trade which was first published in 1696.