1935
231, [1]pp.
George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London. 

The very scarce first edition of mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russells’ collection of essays, including the notable work ‘In Praise of Idleness’. 

The first edition, first impression with no further impressions stated. In the very scarce original unclipped dust wrapper.

‘In Praise of Idleness’ is one of Russell's best known essays, in which the British philosopher challenges the conventional belief that hard work is inherently virtuous and that people should devote as much of their lives as possible to earning a living. Other essays in the collection include Useless Knowledge, The Case for Socialism, The Ancestry of Fascism, Education and Discipline and Stoicism and Mental Health.

In the original cloth binding in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally very smart with slight bumping to the extremities and the odd mark to the board. Slightly sprung. Dust wrapper is smart with chipping to extremities. Spotting to wrap and sunning to spine. Internally firmly bound. Scattered spotting, heavier to the first and last few pages and the fore edge. 

Grading: VERY GOOD in a VERY GOOD dust wrapper.