(Franklin, Benjamin, printer)

Marcus Tullius Cicero.  Cato Major, or his Dicourses on Old-Age [trans. James Logan].  Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, 1744



Small 4to (7  5/8  x 5  1/2  in.; 194 x 140 mm).  Title in red and black, a few typographic ornaments; occasional minor spotting, but generally a clean copy.  Full green morocco "by W. Pratt for H. Stevens & Son 1886," spine gilt in 6 compartments, covers with gilt-tooled borders, gilt dentelles, edges gilt; spine faded, some wear at extremities.



 

Henry Stevens (collection dispersed 1886) — Samuel F. Barger (bookplate)

Evans 5361; Ford 44; Hildeburn 868; Miller 347; Sabin 13040

first edition of one of Franklin's finest typographical efforts.  The book, which Franklin perceived as one of his best, is now regarded as one of the earliest American fine press books.  Sabin describes it as "probably the finest production of Franklin's press, and really a splendid specimen of the art."  This is the first translation of this classic published in America.  The translator was James Logan (1674–1751), chief Justice of Pennsylvania.

This is the second issue with "only" on line 5 of page 27.