(Constitutions of the United States) | The states' constitutions, translated by La Rochefoucauld and printed for Franklin

[Constitutions of the United States; translated by the Duc François de La Rochefoucauld]

Constitutions des treize Etats-Unis de L'Amérique. Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783

8vo (189 x 119 mm). Title with woodcut seal of the United States, a few contemporary French annotations in the margins; light foxing, mostly affecting the first and last few leaves, generally a clean and bright copy. Contemporary French mottled calf, gilt decorated spine, dark green leather label, board edges gilt-ruled, all edges marbled, pink silk ribbon; wear to corners and along the joints, the joints starting at the head and tail, front hinge cracked, nonetheless the binding is quite sound.

Franklin, as minister plenipotentiary to France, had just completed negotiating the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain, ensuring the United States' independence, when he conceived of the idea for the present work. It was translated by the Duc de la Rochefoucauld at Franklin's suggestion, and it includes the texts of the thirteen state constitutions, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the treaties between the United States and France, the Low Countries, and Sweden. The title-page bears the first appearance in book form of the seal of the United States: the eagle, thirteen stars, and shield bearing thirteen stripes.

Franklin explain his intentions—albeit after the fact—to Thomas Mifflin, president of the Confederation Congress, in a letter of 25 December 1783: "The extravagant Misrepresentations of our Political State, in foreign Countries, made it appear necessary to give them better Information, which I thought could not be more effectually and authentically done than by publishing a Translation into French, now the most general Language in Europe, of the Book of Constitutions which had been printed by Order of Congress. This I accordingly got well done. … It has been well taken, and has afforded Matter of Surprise to many, who had conceived mean Ideas of the State of Civilization in America, and could not have expected so much political Knowledge and Sagacity had existed in our Wilderness. And from all Parts I have the Satisfaction to hear that our Constitutions in general are much admired. I am persuaded that this Step will not only tend to promote the Emigration to our Country of substantial People from all Parts of Europe, by the numerous Copies I shall dispense, but will facilitate our future Treaties with Foreign Courts, who could not before know what kind of Government and People they had to treat with. As in doing this I have endeavour’d to further the apparent Views of Congress in the first Publication, I hope it may be approved, and the Expence allow’d."

In addition to the five hundred copies printed in octavo format, as here, Franklin had one hundred copies imposed as quartos on large-paper papier velin for diplomatic presentation.

REFERENCES

Echeverria, p. 313 ff; Howes C716; Livingston pp. 181–88; Sabin 16118; Streeter sale 2:1035