Dialogues sur le Commerce des Bleds. by GALIANI, Ferdinando - 1770

London [i.e. Paris?], [no publisher,], 1770. An attack on the physiocrats, in contemporary green quarter vellum First edition of the work that established Galiani's reputation as an economist, a bold attack on the physiocrats and a virulent critique of the royal edict of 1764 liberalising the trade in grain. Galiani was secretary of the Neapolitan embassy in Paris, and was well connected with the leading enlightenment figures of the day. He left the manuscript with Diderot, who translated the work into French and saw it through publication. Voltaire wrote favourably of the work, comparing the author to a cross between Plato and Molière, yet other philosophes reacted with displeasure: André Morellet and Turgot both published rebuttals. Galiani's work is here bound after Moissy's translation of Edward Young's The Complaint, entitled Vérités philosophiques tirées des nuits d'Young, published in Paris the same year by Pillot and Rouen. Octavo (195 x 126 mm). Bound after another work in contemporary continental green quarter vellum, red morocco label, spine richly gilt with foliate tool, marbled paper sides, red edges. Half-title and errata present. A couple of tiny marks to sides, scattered foxing to contents. Corners neatly restored; a very attractive copy. ESTC T73250; Kress 6730; Goldsmiths' 10640; Einaudi 2334; Mattioli 1376.