[Rarebooks] fa: 1790 Gentleman's Magazine: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN OBITUARY - MAP OF AMERICA/CANADA - BUNKER HILL etc.

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other science and mathematics titles, auctions ending Sunday, October 6. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/o8jk43a

Thanks again,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.


The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. For the Year MDCCXC [1790]. Volume LX [60]. Part the First. London: Printed by John Nichols for D. Henry, 1790. Six complete monthly issues (Jan.-June). Thick 8vo bound in early half calf and marbled boards; iv + 580 + [16] pp.; with numerous in-text tables and diagrams and 17 engraved plate leaves, 3 of which are folding (complete). Binding is worn, rubbed, and fragile: the text block is splitting at the midway point, nearly separated. Contents are very good: a bit of dust-soiling to the top edges, occasional mild toning and spotting, some intermittent offsetting, but generally quite clean and fresh.

This volume includes the obituary of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: "At Philadelphia, aged 84 years and 3 months, Benjamin Franklin, esq. LL.D. and F.R.S...". Running more than three double-columned pages (surely one of the longest in the history of the magazine), the obituary contains considerable detail on Franklin's life and accomplishments. In keeping with the high-minded cosmopolitanism of the Age of Enlightenment, the Gentleman's Magazine was always one of the foremost champions of Franklin's scientific work, even at the height of Britain's "troubles" with America. Coincidentally, just preceding Franklin's obituary is that of an old colleague of his, John Foxcroft of New York: "Dr. Franklin and he were appointed joint postmasters-general of the province; which office, during the time of the American war, was abolished."

Also of North American interest are an engraved VIEW OF BUNKER'S HILL ("with the encampments of the Generals Howe and Clinton; and Charles Town, as it appeared after being burnt by our troops… [drawn] by an officer who was in the 22nd regiment at the time") and a handsome folding MAP OF AMERICA from lat. 45 to lat. 65 ("new Discoveries from Lake Superior to Cook's River and Slave Lake"); as well as numerous articles, letters, etc., pertaining to the United States and Canada.

Additional plates include: RIDGE'S PATENT DRILL AND HOE PLOUGH (folding, with a detailed description); a view and a ground-plan of the RUINS OF KIRKSTALL ABBEY; a view of HASLAR HOSPITAL (Gosport, Hampshire); OBSERVATORIES at Stiernbourg and Uranienbourg; Daly's Club-house in Dublin; the Abbey of Dunbrody in Wexford; calculus found in the colon of a horse; etc.