JEVONS, WILLIAM STANLEY. 1835-1882.
The Theory of Political Economy. London and New York: Macmillan and Co., 1871. 8vo. Half-title, diagrams in text. Publisher's brick red cloth, spine lettered in gilt, some minor chipping to spine ends and along rear joint, hinges starting, light moisture stain to prelims and visible at rear rndpaper.
Provenance: Verne Atrill (Canadian economist, autograph presentation, 'Through the kind offices of the Canadian Association of Friends of LSE,' to Baron Lionel Robbins (1898-1984, British economist).

FIRST EDITION OF JEVONS'S LANDMARK WORK DEVELOPING THE CONCEPT OF MARGINAL UTILITY, a presentation copy from maverick Canadian economist Verne Atrill to his mentor at the London School of Economics Lionel Robbins. Robbins was widely influenced by Jevons' work, but the presentation makes it clear that Atrill disagrees, '... This is a bad book. Jevons was an indifferent thinker. You told me to read Knight and I did and found he sparkled. You told me to read Wicksteed and I found him the epitomy [sic] of boredom... Jevons and Wicksteed make a pain to me. Still this is a first edition and I treasure it. With gratitude, Verne Atrill.'
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