[Rarebooks] FS: Scarce WORKS OF THE LATE DOCTOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1793, First Issue

[Charles Agvent]

FRANKLIN, Benjamin. WORKS OF THE LATE DOCTOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: 
CONSISTING OF HIS LIFE WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, TOGETHER WITH ESSAYS, 
HUMOROUS, MORAL & LITERARY, CHIEFLY IN THE MANNER OF THE SPECTATOR. IN 
TWO VOLUMES. London: G. G. J. and J. Robinson, [1793]. First Edition. 
Two octavo (4-5/8" x 7-1/4") volumes bound in contemporary calf leather, 
recently rebacked with new sympathetic spines; (ii), [v]-ix, (3), 317, 
[3]; [vi], 268 pages. Vignette portrait of Franklin in a fur cap on both 
title pages. First issue, with the errata at the end of the first 
volume, of this important work publishing part of Franklin's 
Autobiography here in English for the first time. Ford 449: "Owing to 
the non-appearance of Temple Franklin's edition, this re-translation of 
the Autobiography and the collection of Essays has become the 'popular' 
and one might also say 'Chap-book' edition of Franklin's 'Life and 
Writings'.... A collection of the 'popular' pieces of Franklin, together 
with a re-translation of the Autobiography from the French translation 
of 'Gibelin', the first edition of the biography, and Stuber's 
continuation. The editing was done by Benjamin Vaughan, who has clearly 
made use of his MS. copy of the Autobiography in the re-translation. The 
work was prepared for publication in 1791, but withheld on account of 
Temple Franklin's announcement of an edition of his grandfather's 
writings." Old and detailed bookseller's description tipped to the front 
free endpaper of the first volume. Occasional pencil marks, small tear 
to one page with no loss. Near Fine. (#015750)        $7,500.00

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