Franklin, Benjamin | The essence of the American way of life

Franklin, Benjamin

Memoires de la vie privee, ecrits par lui-meme ... suivis d'un precis historique de sa vie politique, et de plusiers pieces, relatives a ce pere de la liberte. Paris: Chez Buisson, 1791

2 parts in one volume, 8vo (215 x 135 mm). Title-page with small floral device; a lovely uncut copy with deckle edges preserved. Original wrappers with printed paper spine label, each wrapper backed with a page of text pink wrappers faded, contemporary inked numeral "1048" at tail, but withal a lovely entirely unsophisticated example. Half-morocco case.

First edition of the first part of this renowned autobiography. This pirated edition appeared the year after Franklin's death. "The most widely read of all American autobiographies, the gift to adolescents of countless parents ... this book holds the essence of the American way of life" (Grolier). This French translation of Franklin's 1771 manuscript covers the years 1706–1731 in the first part, and includes Wilmer's Memoirs of Franklin for the period after 1731 in the second part.

REFERENCE:

Grolier/American 21; Howes F323; Sabin 25549