CAPITAL By Karl Marx - 1889 American Edition - 800 Page Combined Volume
Item History & Price
The first edition of Capital in English was published by Swan Sonnenschein in London in 1887 in two volumes, reportedly in an edition of 500 copies. I noticed a set of those is currently being offered by a rare book dealer in the United States for $17, 000. Then, two years later was another combined edition by the same publisher. I see a prominent book dealer in London has a copy of that 1889 edition priced at $3, 090. That copy has a red cover. The copy I am offering has a yellow cove...r and the imprint of APPLETON & CO. in New York. On the page facing the title page it indicates it was printed by the Aberdeen University Press, which is in Scotland. So this is a first or very early American edition. Perhaps a truck drove over it or a banker tossed it from a skyscraper, I have no idea how the cover got so worn and battered while the pages (aside from the 25 with penciling or ink) are in good condition. Hardly any book, other then Darwin's "Origin of Species" has had such an impact as this one. Karl Marx, sitting and studying at the British Museum some 25 years fortifying his theories with scholarship. Frederick Engels edited this edition. In 1894 another volume would be added from Marx's papers. Then a forth book. So here's my thinking. I am setting a price based on the London dealer's but I suspect this is better as it is not only a later reprint it is also an American edition. Then I'm taking $590 off the London dealer's price which could be used towards restoration using the original cover. PLEASE look at the photographs carefully and ask any questions in advance, I am selling AS-IS. I am offering this exclusively to U.S. buyers and addresses. I think with professional work it will look impressive. There is an index as such at the back of "Works and Authors Quoted in "Capital". I will mail well packed and insured.
