(Franco-American Alliance) | The official French printing of the first French-American treaty

(Franco-American Alliance)

Traite d’amitié et de commerce conclu entre le Roi et les Étas-Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale, le 6 Février 1778. Paris: De l”Imprimerie Royale, 1778

4to (273 x 216 mm, uncut). Woodcut vignette on title-page; edges toned, fold split to terminal leaf. Morocco-tipped red marbled slipcase and morocco-backed chemise lettered gilt.

The official French printing of the first French-American treaty, the first treaty between the United States and any other country, and a decisive moment in the American Revolution. Having struggled to find allies in their fight against Great Britain, the fledgling United States achieved recognition from France when news of Burgoyne’s defeat at Saratoga reached Paris. In February 1778 the American commissioners Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, and Silas Deane negotiated both the treaty of amity and commerce, published herein, and a treaty of military alliance. Because France wished to consult with its ally Spain, the alliance treaty was not immediately published in France, and probably first appeared in Philadelphia; the amity and commerce treaty however was published immediately, first appearing in this Paris edition. France and the United States grant each other most-favored nation trade status and agree to protect each other's commercial vessels. Both parties also agree to abstain from fishing in each other's waters, with the United States especially agreeing to refrain from fishing on the banks of Newfoundland.

Howes records two Paris editions of 1778: this official twenty-three page printing, and another of eight pages, both of which appear in the NUC. The NUC locates seven copies of the official royal printing and Rare Book Hub records only 4 copies at auction since 1955.

REFERENCE

Celebration of My Country 78; Brunet 1:12; Echeverria & Wilkie 778/36; Howes T328; Revolutionary Hundred 51; Sabin 96565; Streeter sale 2:791