Five Rare Books for Collectors: Capital & Growth

Highlights from Peter Harrington's new Capital & Growth catalogue of works on economic theory, government policy, welfare, money and markets to trade and commerce include: 

* Children of the People by Jacob A. Riis

The original manuscript of Riis’s short story, signed by the author at head in pencil, describing the ongoing suffering of children, as published in Century Magazine for December 1903. The manuscript of around 2,000 words displays the author’s editorial process, including extensive corrections and edits to the text, which amend and omit numerous words and sentences. At his death, Theodore Roosevelt called Riis “the staunchest, most efficient, friend the children of New York City have ever had”. Nine leaves of blue-lined paper, (25 x 20 cm), written on rectos only.

* The Budget of National Resources by John Maynard Keynes

First 1940 edition, a rare privately printed pamphlet, issued in advance of the budget due on April 23 and keeping up the pressure after How to Pay for the War, published a month earlier. The ownership inscription of Cambridge-educated mathematician and economist and Keynes's eventual heir at the Treasury, Otto Clarke is at the head of the first page. No copy appears in auction records, and the only copy traced in institutional holdings worldwide is that at the Bodleian, Oxford. Small quarto pamphlet, 8 pp. Stitched as issued. Custom brown cloth folding case.

* Epistola de Tolerantia by John Locke

Rare 1689 first edition of Locke’s first separately published work, his Letter on Toleration, in which he advocates the separation of church and state. Duodecimo. Recent full vellum to style by James Brockman, manuscript lettering to spine. Housed in a black quarter morocco solander box.