A Discourse on Inequality
A Discourse on Inequality is Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Second Discourse, written for an Academy of Dijon competition and first published in Amsterdam by Marc-Michel Rey in 1755. It traces inequality to private property. The first English translation was printed in London for the Dodsleys in 1761.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First published
- Marc-Michel Rey, Amsterdam, 1755
- First UK edition
- R. and J. Dodsley, 1761
Which edition do you have?
Editions
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 9 on Open Library, 7 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 20 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Discours Sur Les Sciences Et Les Arts1750 · 1 edition
- Emile1762 · 1 edition
- The Social Contract1764 · 1 edition
- The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau1790 · 1 edition
- The Social Contract and Discourses1920 · 1 edition
- Discourse on the Origin of Inequality1941 · 1 edition
- The Reveries of the Solitary Walker1979 · 2 editions
- Reveries of a Solitary Walker1983 · 1 edition
Questions about A Discourse on Inequality
Reviews of A Discourse on Inequality
Read it or own it? Share what A Discourse on Inequality is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of A Discourse on Inequality are there?
We track 1 edition of A Discourse on Inequality. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was A Discourse on Inequality first published?
A Discourse on Inequality by Jean-Jacques Rousseau was first published in 1755.
Where these facts come from
- Discourse on Inequality, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Rousseau, Discours sur l'origine et les fondemens de l'inegalité, Lynge & Søn (lynge.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 23 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
More pictures