De l’administration des finances de la France

n.p.: n.p., 1784. FIRST EDITION. Woodcut chapter headings, folding table. Contemporary calf-backed boards, gilt spines; an excellent set. First edition, possibly the first printing, of Necker’s famous work on the financial health of France. A very interesting and possibly unique copy, bibliographically. The collation differs from every copy we have examined. These volumes were printed from a smaller set of type and thus contains fewer leaves though the text is exactly the same in virtually all other copies of the first edition found. It is also an earlier printing as many of the other copies we looked at have the few errata items corrected.

Necker (1732-1804) was opposed to raising taxes and instituted loans at high interest rates to help with the French debt. At the time of the American revolution, which was very popular with nearly all the French population, Necker warned against the consequences of use of government bonds to fund its assistance to the Colonies, a very unpopular position. Nevertheless he was blamed for France’s high debt. With the massive amounts spent by the royal family, Necker asked to be brought into the royal council, but was rebuffed because of his Calvinist leanings. It was in 1781 that he published the country’s budget, unheard of at the time, especially under a monarchy. He was then dismissed as minister of finance, which upset a large segment of the people because of his popularity. He spent the next few years writing this book, which sold thousands of copies, pointing out how France had accumulated so much debt and his suggestions for reform. Prior to the French Revolution, Necker made numerous attempts at reforming the financial health of the country.

Goldsmith, 12732; Kress, B752.