Benjamin Franklin | The first French edition of Franklin's landmark work on electricity, evidently a presentation copy

Benjamin Franklin

Expériences et observations sur l'électricité faites à Philadelphie en Amérique... & communiquées dans plusieurs lettres à M. P. Collinson de la Société Royale de Londres. Paris: Durand, 1752

8vo (164 x 93 mm). Early inscription on the title, "ex dono autoris," head and tailpiece ornaments in text, an engraved folding plate at rear; very infrequent small spots and light toning, the inscription on the title trimmed with the last letter "s" mostly lost, transparent (ink?) stain affecting leaves b2v and b3r, a tiny chip at top edges of leaves E4-8, pale stain in the margin of leaf H2. Contemporary French calf, spine and board edges decoratively gilt, red leather spine label, all edges sprinkled red, green silk ribbon; minor scuffing and wear, some superficial and skillful restorations at spine ends, joints, and corners. Housed in a custom brown leather clamshell case.

The first French edition of "Franklin's most important scientific publication," evidently a presentation copy from the author (Norman, Vol. II, 830).

The first edition of this work was published in London in 1751, and it quickly cemented Franklin's reputation as a scientist. It contains reports about Franklin's early experiments with electricity, mainly using a Leyden Jar, and his landmark "single fluid" theory of electricity. He also coined the terms "positive" and "negative" for electricity in this work. The book takes the form of a series of letters to Peter Collinson, a London merchant, naturalist, and Franklin's chief British correspondent. Collinson compiled the work, which was published with an unsigned preface by John Fothergill. The first French edition also includes an engraved plate, not present in the first English edition, showing the types of instruments Franklin would have used in his experiments.

REFERENCES

OCLC Number, 7123138; The first edition, London, 1751: Printing and the Mind of Man, 199; Norman, 830

PROVENANCE

Purportedly a presentation copy from Benjamin Franklin, inscribed by the recipient, "ex dono autoris," on the title page