Scarce 1st Edition of The Works of David Ricardo, Esq., MP. With A Notice of the Life and Writings of the Author by J.R. McCulloch, Esq. London: John Murray, 1846. Octavo. The first collected edition of Ricardo’s major economic writings, edited by J. R. McCulloch. It includes On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, essays on currency, bullion, and taxation, and several minor tracts and speeches. McCulloch’s introductory “Notice” provides a detailed account of Ricardo’s life and his contributions to classical economics, including the theories of rent, value, and comparative advantage. Notable Provenance: Ex-libris of Sir Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford (1794–1878) - distinguished British lawyer and politician who twice served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. His engraved armorial bookplate appears on the front pastedown. Condition: Spine shows heavy wear, with loss at head and tail and surface rubbing. Corners and board edges also show wear, and the upper spine left panel is missing leather. Text block is overall clean and well-preserved, with firm binding and crisp printing on quality paper. No loose leaves. However, approximately half of the book shows a light to moderate stain along the top margin, visible throughout many sections (as shown in the photos). The staining appears mostly superficial, it does not obscure the text, but it is noticeable along the upper edge of numerous leaves. Good rebinding candidate. Please see all pictures for the overall condition. David Ricardo is one of the founders of classical economics, alongside Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, and John Stuart Mill. His theories on rent, value, wages, and especially comparative advantage (the principle behind modern international trade) are still fundamental to economic thought today. This 1846 edition preserves those original ideas in their early form. The editor, John Ramsay McCulloch, was one of the leading economists of the 19th century and Ricardo’s close intellectual ally. His “Notice of the Life and Writings of the Author” is the first substantial biographical and critical account of Ricardo ever published, making this edition a key reference for historians of economic thought. This is the first collected edition of Ricardo’s complete works, bringing together all his major writings, tracts, and speeches in one volume for the first time.