Antwoord op de vraag [.]: Welk is de grond van Hollandsch koophandel, van zynen aanwas en bloei? Welke oorzaaken en toevallen hebben dien tot heden aan veranderingen en verval blootgesteld? Welke middelen zyn best geschikt en gemakkelykst te vinden, om denzelven in zyne tegenwoordige gesteldheid te bewaren, zyne verbetering te bevorderen, en den hoogsten trap van volkomenheid te doen bereiken?

In: [Natuurkundige verhandelingen van de Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen te Haarlem]. Verhandelingen, uitgegeeven door de Hollandsche Maatschappye de weetenschappen, te Haarlem. XVI. deel. 8vo. XXXVI, 548, (6) pp. With engraved frontispiece and engraved title vignette. Contemporary half calf with giltstamped red label to gilt spine. First and only edition, published as volume 16 of the Proceedings of the Dutch Scientific Society: three award-winning essays in response to the Society's prize question, "Which is the basis of Dutch commerce, the cause of its increase and flourishing? What causes and contingencies have so far subjected it to change and decline? Which means are best to keep it in its present state, to promote its improvement, and to achive the highest stage of perfection?" - Van den Heuvel, registrar of the Court of Justice in Utrecht, gave the response awarded with the gold medal; it led the Society to establish an Economic Branch in the following year. In 1778 another French translation appeared. The third treatise is the first work by Cornelis Zillesen, later known as a writer on history and finance and a specialist in the field of water management. He belonged to the leaders of the patriotic party in Schiedam and, after the oppression of the patriots, spent several years in France. - Bookplate of the "Bibliothek van de Doopsgezinde Gemeente bij het Kam en den Toren te Amsterdam". Untrimmed copy. - EHB 1244. Laspeyres B.520-522 & p. 155. NNBW IX, k.1313.