DAS KAPITAL. MARX, KARL. 1818-1883. Das Kapital: Kritik der politischen Oekonomie. Erster Band. ...

DAS KAPITAL. MARX, KARL. 1818-1883. Das Kapital: Kritik der politischen Oekonomie. Erster Band. Hamburg: Otto Meisner, 1872. Volume 1 [all published during his lifetime]. 8vo (210 x 134 mm). Modern morocco-backed marbled paper boards, red and brown morocco labels, titled in gilt, custom slipcase. Provenance: Jacob Vowinckel (stamp to title page); Hon. Stanley C. Wisniewski (pencil inscription). SECOND, REVISED EDITION OF MARX'S LANDMARK, which 'transformed the study of economics, history, geography, sociology and literature' (Wheen). Working largely from Ricardo's labor theory of value, Marx asserted that wages do not pay the worker the full value of his product, but the lesser value of his subsistence. This difference becomes surplus value, and may be the source of profit, interest or rent. According to Marx's theory, profits have a tendency to decline over time, while capital becomes concentrated among larger enterprises, creating the tendency to keep labor at a subsistence wage. The resulting dissatisfaction leads to economic crises which will eventually lead to the downfall of the capitalist system. The first volume was the only volume of Das Kapital published during Marx's lifetime. This second edition of 1872 is reorganized and edited from the 1867 first edition. While Engels would try to get Marx to publish the second and third volumes throughout his life, as they existed in manuscript, only after Marx's death in 1883, was Engel's able to edit the original manuscripts for publication: volume 2 in 1885, and volume 3 in 1894. 'The history of the twentieth century is Marx's legacy ... Within one hundred years of his death half the world's population was ruled by governments that professed Marxism to be their guiding faith' (Wheen, Karl Marx: A Life, 'Introduction,' p 1). PMM 359. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing