Principles of Political Economy with some of their Applications to Social Philosophy. by MILL, John Stuart - 1848

London: John W. Parker,, 1848. In two volumes. 2 volumes, octavo (224 x 140 mm). Original grey-green vertical fine-ribbed cloth, printed paper labels to spine, double frames to boards in blind, pale yellow endpapers, edges untrimmed. 4 pages of advertisements at end of Volume I and 2 pages at the end of Volume II. Bookplate of C. S. Burman to front pastedowns. Spines faded, minor wear to spine ends and corners, labels browned, extremities slightly rubbed and bumped, a few leaves roughly opened, first few gatherings of Volume I creased along fore margin. An excellent set First edition of Mill's great treatise on political economy. "From the moment of publication, Mill's Principles was hailed as a classic, far more congenial to the public than earlier economic textbooks, and far more readable than the Logic" (ODNB). "To many generations of students, Mill's Principles was the undisputed bible of economic doctrine" (Roll, History of Economic Thought, p. 353). This copy from the library of the British lawyer and literary reviewer William Empson (1791–1852). From 1823, Empson worked for the Edinburgh Review and he later served as the periodical's editor from 1847 until his death in 1852. "Empson was a prolific and versatile reviewer, writing on history, biography, literature, law, and politics over a period of nearly thirty years, often contributing two articles to a single number" (ODNB). With Empson's ownership signature to the title page of Volume I and the verso of the front free endpaper of Volume II.