Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
and
Value, Price and Profit, from which I've quoted most of the preface below:
Edward Aveling
Socialism: Utopian and Scientific does a decent job of introducing you to how Marx is going to make his argument, and Value, Price and Profit does similar with showing what that argument will be.
Read Adam Smith's On the Wealth of Nations Marx cites his reading of Smith's philosophy as an influence. Among other things, Smith advocates for a progressive taxation system, national primary education, national health care and worker rights. There are things in Nations that are down right socialist. But just like the Bible, everyone knows the books but nobody reads the damn thing.