View source for Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''The Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce''}}
===by Malachy Postlethwayt===
__NOTOC__
{{BookPageInfoBox
|imagename=PostlethwaytDictionary1766v1.jpg
|link=http://wm-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/01COWM_WM:EVERYTHING:01COWM_WM_ALMA21527252410003196
|shorttitle=The Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce
|vol=volume one
|author=Malachy Postlethwayt
|edition=Third
|publoc=London
|publisher=Printed for H. Woodfall, A. Millar, J. and R. Tonson, J. Rivington, J. Hinton, R. Baldwin, L. Hawes and W. Clarke and R. Collins, R. Horsfield, W. Johnston, T. Longman, J. Brotherton, J. Dodsley, T. Payne, J. Robson, T. Lowndes, W. Nicoll, and J. Knox
|year=1766
|lang=English
|set=2
|desc=Folio (43 cm.)
|shelf=B-5
}}[[File:PostlethwaytDictionaryTradeCommerce1766Frontispiece.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<center>Frontispiece, volume one.</center>]]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachy_Postlethwayt Malachy Postlethwayt] (1707-1767) was a British economic writer and author. Beginning in the 1730’s he was employed by Prime Minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Walpole Robert Walpole] as a government publicist.<ref>Peter Groenewegen, "[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22599 Postlethwayt, Malachy (1707–1767)]" in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', accessed September 26, 2013.</ref> Postlethwayt was elected as a fellow to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellow_of_the_Society_of_Antiquaries_of_London Society of Antiquaries] in March of 1735.<ref>Robert Bennett, "Malachy Postlethwayt 1707-67: Genealogy and Influence of an Early Economist and 'Spin-Doctor'," ''Genealogists’ Magazine'' 1 (2006): 1-8.</ref> In 1743 he began his employment with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Africa_Company Royal Africa Company], and was elected a member of the company’s court of assistants in 1745.<ref>Groenewegen, "Postlethwayt, Malachy."</ref> During the 1740’s and early 1750’s Postlethwayt prepared his most critically acclaimed work, ''The Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce'', which was released as two installments between 1751 and 1755.<ref>Bennett, "Malachy Postlethwayt."</ref><br />
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Postlethwayt's ''Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce'', as compared to other popular economic writings at the time, illustrated his interest in political problems, economic nationalism, and a belief in the economic usefulness of experimental philosophy.<ref>E. A. Johnson, "Postlethwayt, the Publicist," in ''Predecessors of Adam Smith: The Growth of British Economic Thought'' (New York: Prentice Hall, 1937), 402.</ref> ''The Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce'' contained many practical articles on inventions and improvements, as well as on commercial practices such as banking, commercial bills, and customs house business.

==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Postlethwayt’s Dictionary. 1. of the vols only. fol." and given by [[Thomas Jefferson]] to his son-in-law, [[Thomas Mann Randolph]]. Later appears on Randolph's 1832 estate inventory as "'Dictionary of Trade & Commerce' ($2.00 value)." We do not have enough information to conclusively identify which edition Wythe owned. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s.v. "[http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe Member: George Wythe]," accessed on November 13, 2013.</ref> on LibraryThing indicates this, adding "Several folio editions were published, the first in 1751-55." The [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref>Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433.</ref> lists the third edition published in London in 1766 based on the copy Jefferson sold to the Library of Congress in 1815.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'', (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 2:359 [http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015033648109;view=1up;seq=377 [no.2102]].</ref> This was the edition purchased by the Wolf Law Library.

==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
Bound in contemporary speckled calf with spines in seven compartments with raised bands. Tooled in gilt on either side of each band. Dark red and dark green morocco lettering-pieces in the second and third compartments, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt with marbled endpapers. Purchased from Donald a. Heald Rare Books. 

Images of the library's copy of this book are [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolflawlibrary/sets/72157658963517145 available on Flickr.] View the record for this book in [http://wm-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/01COWM_WM:EVERYTHING:01COWM_WM_ALMA21527252410003196 William & Mary's online catalog.]

==See also==
*[[George Wythe Room]]
*[[Jefferson Inventory]]
*[[Wythe's Library]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Dictionaries]]
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
[[Category:Thomas Mann Randolph's Books]]
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]
[[Category:EDITED]]