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Exceptionally rare first edition, presentation copy of Experiments and Observations on Electricity; inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to Prominent Philadelphia Merchant, Colleague, and friend Thomas Livezey
FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.
Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates.
London: Printed for David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard 1769.
First complete edition of “the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America” (PMM), inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to prominent Pennsylvania Quaker and merchant Thomas Livezey, Jr. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins. Illustrated with 7 copper-engraved plates, 2 of which are folding. Presentation copy, inscribed by Benjamin Franklin on the front free endpaper, “To Mr. Livesy [sic] From his obliged Friend & humble Servant The Author.” With Thomas Livezey’s ownership signature to the second free endpaper, “Thomas Livezey Junior 1810.” The recipient, Thomas Livezey Jr. (1723-1790), was a member of the fourth generation of the prominent Pennsylvania Quaker Livezey family. His ancestor, Thomas Livezey, the elder (1627-1691), was among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania; his land was a portion of William Penn’s Pennsylvania colony and was granted to him directly by Penn in an early patent. Thomas Livezey Jr. established one of the largest flour mills in colonial British North America, the Livezey Mill, and rose to prominence as one of the major suppliers of high quality flour to the world during that era. Situated on Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia, the Livezey Mill was a major colonial operation, provided flour both domestically and overseas, and fed numerous armies throughout the eighteenth century including those fighting on both sides of the American Revolution. The mill was in continued operation for more than one hundred twenty-five years until roughly 1874. Livezey was elected to the colony of Pennsylvania’s legislative body, the Pennsylvania Assembly, in 1765. Benjamín Franklin had been elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly 14 years earlier in 1751 and in 1764 (one year prior to Livezey’s appointment), Franklin was sent to London by the Pennsylvania Assembly as a colonial agent to protest against the political influence of the Penn family, with whom the assembly was becoming increasingly frustrated. He remained there for five years, striving to end the Penn family’s prerogative to overturn legislation from the elected Assembly and their exemption from paying taxes on their land. His lack of influential allies in Whitehall led to the failure of this mission. Franklin and Livezey were warm acquaintances, despite their differences. In late 1767, Livezey sent a case of wine he had made from wild grapes to Franklin in London, writing, “I heartely wish it may arive Safe, and warm the hearts of Every one who tastes it, with a Love for America. And would it Contribute towards bringing about a Change of Government but one month Sooner, I would Gladly Send all I have.” In early 1768, Franklin thanked Livezey in a letter, stating that he “shall apply this parcel as I did the last towards winning the hearts of the Friends of our Country, and wellwishers to the Change of its Government.” PMM 199; Grolier 100 American Books 10; Dibner Heralds of Science 57. Presentation copies of this first collected edition are scarce. This is the only presentation copy to a known recipient to appear on the market over the course of the past century. In very good condition. Housed in custom three quarter morocco clamshell box.
Price: $375,000.00 Item Number: 147283
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First edition of The Works of Benjamin Franklin; compiled by Jared Sparks
SPARKS, JARED. [BENJAMIN FRANKLIN].
The Works of Benjamin Franklin; Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Edition, and Many Letters Official and Private Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and A Life of the Author.
Boston: Hilliard, Gray, and Company 1840.
First edition of Jared Sparks’ authoritative compilation of Franklin’s works and letters. Octavo, ten volumes bound in full contemporary polished calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin, illustrated. In good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 141375
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Exceptionally rare autograph album containing the autographs of 24 American Presidents in addition to numerous autographs of Cabinet Members, vice presidents and several rare carte-de-visites
WASHINGTON, GEORGE; JOHN ADAMS; THOMAS JEFFERSON; JAMES MADISON; ANDREW JACKSON; MARTIN VAN BUREN; WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON; JAMES TYLER; JAMES H. POLK; JAMES BUCHANAN; ZACHARY TAYLOR; MILLARD FILLMORE; JAMES BUCHANAN; FRANKLIN PIERCE; ABRAHAM LINCOLN; WILLIAM SEWARD; ANDREW JOHNSON; ULYSSES S. GRANT; JAMES GARFIELD; CHESTER A. ARTHUR; GROVER CLEVELAND; BENJAMIN HARRISON; GROVER CLEVELAND; WILLIAM MCKINLEY; ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Autograph Album of the Presidents and Cabinet Officials of the United States of America.
: .
Rare late 19th century folio album containing an extensive collection of Presidential autographs, letters, carte-de-visites, and portraits in addition to those of each Cabinet. Folio, bound in three quarter morocco with five raised bands and gilt titles to the spine. The album contains: a clipped signature of President George Washington with a four-page letter of provenance dated July 13 1948, several portraits of him including two rare carte-de-visites as well as a carte-de-visite of Martha Washington; and autograph letter signed by John Adams as President to Benjamin Lincoln, Quincy, July 23, 1799; a clipped document signed by Thomas Jefferson as President and James Madison as Secretary of State with numerous portraits of each; a trimmed ship’s passport signed by James Monroe; clipped signatures of Andrew Jackson and Martin van Buren; autograph letter signed by William Henry Harrison, North Bend, March 4, 1840; clipped signature of James Tyler; clipped document signed by James H. Polk as President and countersigned by James Buchanan as Secretary of State with the Presidential Seal intact; a card signed by Zachary Taylor and members of his cabinet; slipped signature of Millard Fillmore; autograph letter signed by James Buchanan; clipped signature of Franklin Pierce; clipped signatures of Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, and Andrew Johnson; clipped signature of Ulysses S. Gran with numerous portraits of him including a rare carte-de-visite; clipped signature and autograph not signed by Rutherford B. Hayes, March 21, 1892; autograph note signed by James Garfield, Menton, Ohio June 22, 1880; signature card of Chester A. Arthur dated November 15, 1881; an autograph letter signed by Grover Cleveland on White House stationery, dated September 1, 1887; a card signed by Benjamin Harrison; a signature card signed by Grover Cleveland; and a letter signed by William McKinley, 27 February 1892. The Presidential autographs and portraits are followed by extensive section of cabinet officials including: a clipped signature of Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury; an autograph letter signed by Albert Gallatin; clipped signatures of Aaron Burr, John Armstrong, John Calhoun, and Henry Clay; autograph note signed by Daniel Webster; card signed by James Polk, James Buchanan and other members of his cabinet; autograph letter signed by Edward Everett; autograph note signed by Jefferson Davis and other members of the Confederacy including Howell Cobb and James Thompson; autograph note signed by William H. Seward, dated 1855; and a note signed by Gideon Welles on Navy Department stationery in addition to dozens of other notable American public figures including cabinet officials and Vice-Presidents. In very good condition. An exceptional rarity.
Price: $82,000.00 Item Number: 129509
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“THE MOST WIDELY READ OF ALL AMERICAN AUTOBIOGRAPHIES": TRUE FIRST EDITION OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.
Mémoires de la Vie Privée de Benjamin Franklin, Écrits Par Lui-Même, et Adressés à Son Fils, Suivis d’un Précis Historique de Sa Vie Politique, et de Plusieurs Pièces, Relatives à Ce Père de la Liberté. [Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin].
Paris: Chez Buisson, Libraire 1791.
True first edition of the first part of Franklin’s famed autobiography which preceded the first English edition by two years. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with a morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate period gilt tooling to the spine, ribbon bound in. In very good condition. A nice example.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 139755
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"Where liberty dwells there is my country": Rare copperplate-printed toile fragment from the popular eighteenth-century English pattern "The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington"
[WASHINGTON; GEORGE; BENJAMIN FRANKLIN],.
The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington Printed Textile.
: c. 1785-1790.
Rare copperplate-printed toile fragment from the popular eighteenth-century English pattern “The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington.” The fragment features a copper-plate printed portrait of Benjamin Franklin in academic robes and his famous cap after the famed 1777 portrait of him by Jean-Baptiste holding the ends of a banner reading “Where liberty dwells there is my country.” The fragment has been framed within a patterned textile border. In near fine condition. The piece measures 13.75 inches by 11.25 inches. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Price: $2,200.00 Item Number: 139191
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First French Edition, Presentation copy of the Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America; inscribed by Benjamin Franklin who requested the book's publication and personally distributed the 600 privately printed first edition copies
[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN].
Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America].
Paris: D. Pierres/Pissot, Pere & Fils, Libraries 1783.
First French edition of the Constitution of the United States of America, inscribed by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin who had the translation published and personally distributed each of the 600 copies produced. Octavo, bound in one quarter calf with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed by Benjamin Franklin on the front free endpaper, “A Madame, Madame la Presidente de Manieres [sic] de la parte du. B. Franklin.” The recipient, Madame Durey de Meinires was a a French writer best known for her translations of Samuel Johnson, David Hume, and Sarah Fielding. On March 24th, 1783, Franklin wrote to the Comte de Vergennes, “I am desirous of printing a translation of the Constitutions of the United States of America, published at Philadelphia, by Order of Congress. Several of these Constitutions have already appeared in the English and American newspapers but there has never yet been a complete translation of them.” At Franklin’s suggestion, the Duc de La Rochefoucault produced the first French translation, and Franklin is believed to have contributed the fifty-plus footnotes. Franklin had 600 copies of Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis de l’Amerique privately printed by Philippe-Denis Pierres, first printer ordinary of Louis XVI, which were not made available for sale. Franklin distributed them himself, and was happy to fulfill the request of Madame Durey de Meinires, who wished to receive a copy. On August 31, 1783, Franklin sent a copy of the newly published volume to Madame Durey de Meinires, along with a letter, “I send with great Pleasure the Constitutions of America to my dear & much respected Neighbour, being happy to have any thing in my Power to give that she will do me the honour to accept, and that may be agreeable to her.” The inscribed page included in the present volume was previously sold as a loose flyleaf by Charles Hamilton in 1959, and it has since been professionally tipped into an edition of the book with which it was originally sent. The book contains the Constitutions of each of the thirteen States of America, the Declaration of Independence of the 4th of July 1776, the Friendship and Commerce Treaty, the Alliance Treaty between France and the United States, as well as the treaties between the United States and the Netherlands and Sweden. The title page contains the first appearance of imprint of the United States seal in a book. Franklin‘s grand gesture in publishing and distributing these constitutions‚ about which there was intense interest and curiosity among statesmen‚ was one of his chief achievements as a propagandist for the new American republic. In good condition.
Price: $175,000.00 Item Number: 138381
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First edition of Richard Owen Cambridge's An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French; from the private library of Benjamin Franklin
CAMBRIDGE, RICHARD OWEN [BENJAMIN FRANKLIN].
An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French, on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1760. Together with A Relation of the late Remarkable Events on the Malabar Coast, and the Expeditions to Golconda and Surat; with the Operations of the Fleet. Illustrated with Maps, Plans &c. The Whole Compiled from Original Papers.
London: Printed for T. Jefferys 1761.
Benjamin Franklin’s first edition copy of Cambridge’s account of the progression of the Seven Years’ War in India, from Franklin’s private library. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 12 engraved maps and plans and 6 plates, mostly folding. From the private library of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s contributions to science and politics were immense and his passion for making books more available to a broader audience prompted him to establish North America’s first subscription library. In 1731, Franklin convinced the members of his Junto (a mutual improvement club he founded) to pool their money to purchase books they would collectively share. The collection became the Library Company of Philadelphia and is now regarded as the predecessor to the public library. Franklin was also instrumental in the establishment of the Library of the Pennsylvania Hospital (North America’s first medical library), the Pennsylvania State Library, The Library of the American Philosophical Society, and the Library of the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin’s private library has a long and complex history and although he was known to have produced a list its contents shortly before his death, it has never been discovered. After his death in 1790, a large portion of his library became the property of his grandson, William Temple Franklin who, upon receiving it, quickly sold it to financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence Robert Morris. When Morris went bankrupt at the end of the decade, the collection went into the hands of Philadelphia bookseller and former French tutor Nicholas G. Dufief (in 1801), who began offering volumes for sale to the public. Dufief attempted to interest Congress in obtaining most of the library, but ultimately sent most of it to auction. On March 12, 1803 Philadelphia auctioneers Shannon & Poalk sold the library and Philadelphia attorney William Rawle purchased the present volume, inscribing it: “W. Rawle 1803 – bo’t at sale of Dr. Franklin’s library.” Dufief was also known to have compiled a list of the contents of Franklin’s library, but it has never been recovered and, although printed catalogs were known to be issued advertising the contents of the 1803 Shannon & Poalk auction, a copy has not been located. Philadelphia autograph collector Ferdinand J. Dreer obtained this copy and in 1886 and presented it to the Society of the Sons of St. George. In good condition. With Dreer’s bookplate and presentation inscription. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Rare and desirable from Franklin’s private library and with noted provenance.
Price: $65,000.00 Item Number: 137375
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"A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error": Rare First Edition of Benjamin Franklin's Oeuvres
FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.
Oeuvres.
Paris: Chez Quillau, Esprit, et l'Auteur 1773.
First French edition of Franklin’s complete works on electricity, based on the fourth and best British edition. Quarto, two volumes bound in one, contemporary calf, illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin in his study and twelve full-page plates. In very good condition. Uncommon.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 133908
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"The earliest known book on chess printed in America": Rare First Edition of Chess Made Easy. New and Comprehensive Rules for Playing the Game of Chess
FRANKLIN, DR. BENJAMIN.
Chess Made Easy. New and Comprehensive Rules for Playing the Game of Chess.
Philadelphia: James Humphrey 1802.
First edition of the earliest known book on chess printed in America. 32mo,bound in half leather over marbled boards, illustrated with engraved frontispiece. In very good condition with some rubbing to the extremities, frontispiece repaired, title-page repaired and dampstained. An exceptional rarity, with only one example appearing at auction in the last 75 years.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 126090
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“The Body of Benjamin FRANKLIN Printer, Like the Covering of an Old Book Its contents torn out and stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies Here, Food for Worms": Scarce first edition of Nathaniel Ames' 1771 Almanack, containing the first known printing of Benjamin Franklin's famous epitaph
AMES, NATHANIEL. [BENJAMIN FRANKLIN].
An Astronomical Diary or Almanack, for the Year of Our Lord Christ 1771.
Boston: Printed and Sold by the Printers and Booksellers [1770].
First edition of Nathaniel Ames’ 1771 Almanack, containing the first known printing of “the most famous of American epitaphs” (Mark Van Doren). 12mo, original wrappers stitched as issued. In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. An exceptional example of this scarce early almanac.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 125283