Books and Manuscripts

London: Printed for R. Hayes, 1719. First edition. 12mo. (xvi), 268 pp. Contemporary full paneled brown calf, stamped in blind and in gilt, rear board starting, spine dry and chipped, foot of spine perished, corners worn; red speckled edges; old bookseller's ticket on front paste-down; contemporary notations on ad at front; a few short closed tears along edges of text. ESTC T110914; Goldsmiths’-Kress 5589

A very rare and early handbook for bankers and merchants, providing an encyclopedic listing of exchange rates throughout Europe's most important centers of finance. Hayes was an English mathematician, accomptant, and writing-master who published several works on accounting and other financial matters, including, The Young Merchant's Assistant (1718), A New Method for Valuing of Annuities (1727), Modern Book-Keeping, or, the Italian Method Improved (1731), Interest at One View (1732)--his most reprinted work--and The Broker's Breviat (1734).

We cannot locate a first edition of this work ever being offered at auction. ESTC locates only six copies worldwide: Advocates Library, Edinburgh; British Library; Oxford University Library; Senate House Library, University of London; St. Andrew's University Library, Scotland; Baker Library at Harvard University.