[VALENCIA.] REAL SOCIEDAD ECONÓMICA.
Instituciones economicas de la Sociedad de Amigos del Pais, de la ciudad, i reino de Valencia. Primera parte [all published].
Valencia, Monfort for the Society, 1777.
8vo, pp. lxxiii, 208; with allegorical engraved vignette on the title; a clean, crisp, very attractive copy in contemporary vellum, flat spine with ink titling.
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Instituciones economicas de la Sociedad de Amigos del Pais, de la ciudad, i reino de Valencia. Primera parte [all published].
Rare first and only edition of the prospect, statutes and plans of the Valencia Royal Society of the friends of the Country. The Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País were private associations established in various cities throughout Enlightenment Spain, and to a lesser degree in some of Spain's overseas territories including (the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guatemala, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, and elsewhere) to stimulate the economic and intellectual development of Spain.
The brainchild of a group of seven local promoters well aware of the Europe-wide movement for the improvement of economies from the point of view of agriculture, husbandry, industry, the professions and arts as advocated in the (here quoted) Ami des hommes and other works by the French Economistes, the Society obtained permission to constitute itself as quickly as the Madrid sister-group. This elegant publication, dedicated to the King himself, reflects the lofty, yet practical purposes and lively intellectual engagement of the members.
The allegorical vignette, featuring crops and a ship and the motto ‘Fert omnia tellus’ is clearly more than a nod to the Economistes’ realm of commitment.
No copies recorded in the US. One in the UK (British library).
