De l'Administration des Finances de la France. 3-vol. set (Complete)
n.p. NP, 1784. First edition, later issue. Hardcover. Octavo. VII, [1], CLIX, [1], 352, VII, [1], 536, VIII, 468pp. Original blond paper boards with gold lettering and borders on spines. Printer's device on each title page. Decorative head-, tailpieces. This work is Necker's attempt to defend his policy when he was Louis XVI's minister of finance. French statesman of Swiss birth, he sought to reduce public expenditures by such measures as abolishing unnecessary positions and by demanding larger payments from the private companies that had purchased the right to collect indirect taxes. He also attempted to introduce some reforms in the inequitable system of taxation. Because Necker financed French aid to the American colonies in their war of independence against England without raising taxes, he was regarded as a financial genius. As a result of Necker's loans, however, the public debt greatly increased. Necker anticipated one goal of the French Revolution by founding a number of provincial assemblies in which the three estates sat and voted together. These efforts aroused opposition from the privileged classes, who urged Louis XVI to dismiss his minister. As a result, he was dismissed from office on May 19, 1781. Necker retired to his Swiss estate, Coppet, where he wrote his famous treatise "De l'Administration des Finances de la France" in 1784. This treatise is complete with its large folding chart at rear of first volume. This work is a first edition, later issue, with an errata page in each volume. Some age wear on binding with shelf wear and rubbing along edges. Closed tears and minor chipping at head of spines. Slight abrasion along title labels. Minor rubbing on covers. Contemporary previous owner's name in ink on free front endpaper of first volume. Text in French. Binding in overall good, interior in very good to near fine condition. vg. Item #29268
Price: $750.00