Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions.
London: Richard Bentley, 1841 Stock Code: 128845
Notes
First edition. Mackay's important early work of social psychology discusses popular delusions of all types and considers the credulous enthusiasm of mankind for phenomena such as alchemy, witchcraft, relics, the Crusades, urban myths, as well as economic events such as the tulip bubble, the Mississippi Bubble, and the South Sea Bubble. Still in print, Mackay's book has had a profound influence on economics and sociology, with many modern economists referring to his work when analysing the stock market bubbles of our own age. "Charles Mackay's passionate erudition and urbane, unaffected prose style contributed to make him one of the chief figures in the establishment of Victorian journalism as a dignified profession" (ODNB).Description
3 volumes, octavo. Original brown cloth, recased, flat spines lettered in gilt and ruled in blind, boards elaborately decorated in blind, yellow endpapers, edges uncut. Housed in a brown quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery.
Illustrations
With the publisher's advertisements to the front of volumes 1 and 2. Frontispieces with tissue guards (excepting volume 2) and 2 engraved portrait plates to volume 3.
Condition
Armorial bookplates of Richard Collyer Andrée (1785-1865; lieutenant general in the British Army's Bengal Infantry) to front pastedowns. Spines sunned and a little slanted, ends and corners bumped, cloth scuffed with a few areas of wear and discolouration, including a horizontal marking to front board of vol. 2, one short closed tear to fore edge of vol. 2 sig. U2, in all a very good set, the contents bright and clean.
DELIVERY
With the exception of framed items*, Peter Harrington offers free delivery on all UK orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website. Delivery to USA and the rest of the world is similarly free for orders over £200.
ABOUT US
Established in 1969, Peter Harrington is one of the leading rare book firms in the world. It is a proud member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association – along with ILAB, the PBFA and Lapada – and from shops in Mayfair and Chelsea, London, sells rare books, prints and ephemera to customers across the world.
Email: mail@peterharrington.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7591 0220
