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=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3452350
|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.)
}}[[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 of several publications including ''The Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce''. Beginning in the 1730’s he was employed by the prime minister, 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'' (Oxford University Press, 2004-), accessed 26 Sept 2013.</ref> He was elected as a fellow to the 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 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'', which was released as two installments between 1751 and 1755.<ref>Bennett, "Malachy Postlethwayt."</ref><br />
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''The Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce'', as compared to other popular economic writings at the time, illustrated Postlethwayt's ‘greater interest in political problems; his more intense economic nationalism; and his exuberant 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 practice 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'' 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 2:359.</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. 

View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3452350 William & Mary's online catalog.]
==References==
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[[Category:Dictionaries]]
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]