1806 An Essay on the Principle of Population

Description

Early Edition, Scarce

The third edition, as stated to the title page. This third edition is a first edition thus, being the first Octavo edition. The work remained in this format for the rest of Malthus' life. This third edition also contains important alterations additions. The appendix contains responses from Malthus to his critics. 

This work observes an increase in a nation's food production improves the well-being of the populace, though on a temporary basis only due to the subsequent population growth. This became known as the 'Malthusian trap' or 'Malthusian spectre'. 

Malthus's treatise was responsible for igniting debate on British population size and was a major contributor to the passing of the 1800 Census Act. 

Both volumes retain half-titles. 

There are duplicates of volume II's contents leaves (pi3-4) bound into volume I. 

Prior owner's inscription to the half-title 'Walter Young'. 

From the library of the naturalist and environmentalist David Bellamy. With his bookplate to the front pastedown of volume I. 

A lovely first edition set of this work.