Publius Vergilius Maro | Baskerville's Virgil, the gift of Benjamin Franklin to Francis Hopkinson

Publius Vergilius Maro

Bucolica, Georgica, et Aeneis. Birminghamiae: Typis Johannis Baskerville, MDCCLVII (1757)

Royal 4to (292 x 224 mm). List of subscribers with just four "Names too late to be inserted Alphabetically" on b2v, "arferæ" uncorrected on R4r, signature letters Dd widely spaced on p. 208 (one of Gaskell's four rare errors); some light foxing and browning. Contempoary vellum over boards, spine in seven compartments with black morocco label in second, marbled endpapers, red edges; rebacked, soiled, scuffed. Fleece-lined marbled board slipcase.

First edition, early issue, of "Baskerville's first and perhaps his finest book" (Gaskell), one of six copies subscribed for by Benjamin Franklin, who appears in the subscriber's list as "Ben. Franklin, Esq. of Philadelphia, F. R. S. six Books."

Franklin represented the Pennsylvania Assembly in London from 1757 to 1762, where he became acquainted with the typographical exploits of John Baskerville. Franklin championed the Birmingham printer's high-contrast Great Primer typeface and his use of wove paper: "Franklin, a practical printer who aimed at neatness, could appreciate the lean elegance of Baskerville's type, the flawless presswork and the smoothness of the hot-pressed wove paper" (Quarter of a Millennium: The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1731–1981).

Franklin had the six subscription copies all bound in vellum as gifts (he subsequently purchased a seventh copy, bound in calf, evidently for himself). One of these he gave to Harvard College, and the others he presented to Philadelphia friends, including Isaac Norris. The present copy was given to the young Philadelphia lawyer—and, like Franklin, future signer of the Declaration of Independence—Francis Hopkinson shortly after Franklin's return to that city. The volume bears the Signer's armorial bookplate, engraved by H. Dankins, and is inscribed by him at the head of the title-page, "The Gift of Dr. Benjamin Franklin at Philad. December 1762." Hopkinson is credited with two early designs of the United States flag and later served as Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania. The title-page was later signed by his grandson, "Oliver Hopkinson 1849."

The recipient of this book was himself the son of Thomas Hopkinson, one of Franklin’s closest friends and colleagues. He worked with Franklin on several of his experiments on electricity, helped found the Library Company of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, and served as first president of the American Philosophical Society. Franklin memorialized him: "The power of points to throw off electrical fire was first communicated to me by my ingenious friend, Thomas Hopkinson, since deceased, whose virtue and integrity in every station of life, public and private, will ever make his memory dear to those who knew him and knew how to value him."

Francis Hopkinson's copy is evidently the only one of the seven copies of Baskerville's edition of Virgil's opera purchased by Franklin remaining in private hands.

REFERENCES

Gaskell 1

PROVENANCE

Francis Hopkinson (recipient’s gift inscription on title-page, armorial bookplate); by descent to his son — Joseph Hopkinson; by descent to his son — Oliver Hopkinson (signature, dated 1849, on title-page); by descent to — Francis Hopkinson Family Archives (William Bunch Auctions, 23 June 2020, lot 189)