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). Head- and tailpiece ornaments in text, an engraved folding plate at rear; very infrequent small spots and light toning, the inscription on the title-page 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).

The first edition of this work was published in London in 1751, and it quickly cemented Franklin's reputation as a scientist (see lot 59). It contains reports about Franklin's early experiments with electricity, mainly using a Leyden jar, and defines his landmark "single fluid" theory of electricity. He also coined the terms "positive" and "negative" for electricity in this work. The text 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 a folding plate, reengraved for the French edition, showing the types of instruments Franklin would have used in his experiments.

REFERENCES

OCLC Number 7123138; cf. the first edition: Printing and the Mind of Man 199; Norman c830

PROVENANCE

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