Books and Manuscripts

Franklin, Benjamin
Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces...
London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1779. First edition. 8vo. xi, 567, (7) pp.; duplicate of pp. 195/196 and 205/206 bound in at front. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin, one engraved folding table, and three engraved plates (two folding). Full contemporary tree calf, rebacked, red morocco spine label, stamped in gilt, corners worn; all edges trimmed; free endpapers renewed; abrasion on front paste-down from now removed label; repair in top corner of frontispiece; scattered spotting to text; horizontal tear traversing entire pp. 195/196 and on 205/206. Ford 342; Howes F-330; Sabin 25565

Scarce edition of Benjamin Franklin's collected writings, "the only edition of Franklin's writings (other than his scientific), which was printed during his lifetime." (Ford). This edition was prepared by Benjamin Vaughan, a close friend of Franklin's, with Franklin's knowledge and consent.