PARETO VILFREDO: (1848-1923) Italian Engineer, Economist and Philosopher. Pareto made important contributions to economics, sociology and mathematics. The Pareto principle was named after him. A fine A.L.S., `Vilfredo Pareto´, a bold and large signature, four pages, 8vo, Céligny, 24th March 1904, in French. A lengthy and clean letter by Pareto, stating in part `I depart tomorrow to Italy, I will be back here towards the 15th of April. I have been a little lazy writing articles, and this is the reason why you have not received any…. I still work on my manual, but it progresses like a turtle´, further referring to the political situation in France `People say that Combes will fall, I really regret. Believe me, actually there is nothing worse for the bourgeoisie than getting bogged down in a fake security. Its end can only come from one of the following two sides, either a big European war, or from the revolutionary excesses. It is true that Combes could be replaced by someone worse… Have you seen that the law related to the weekly rest in Italy (it was in fact the Sunday rest) has not been approved at the Chamber.´ Pareto further again makes interesting comments about the Italian political situation, and before concluding states `The courses at the stock exchange of Paris are fully distorted by the arbitrary intervention of the stockbrokers. If the war continues and spreads, you will see what a great catastrophe has been prepared.´ A rare letter of very good content. EX

Emile Combes (1835-1921) French Statesman. Combes led the ''Bloc des gauches'', left political parties from 1902 to 1905.