Extraordinarily Rare Bilingual Edition Of The Way To Wealth, 1795, “The Most Popular Of All Franklin’s Writings,” In Original Boards 25. FRANKLIN, Benjamin. The Way to Wealth, Or Poor Richard Improved. Paris, 1795. Small octavo, original pink paper boards. $9500. Click for more info Rare large-paper Paris printing of one of Franklin’s most famous works, the first edition in English of Franklin’s Way to Wealth to be published in France, featuring engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin by Dupleisse, one of a very small number of copies printed on large paper, in original boards. In the 27th and last edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack, Franklin included a preface consisting of “a long speech to a market-day audience by a character named Father Abraham. The speech blended maxims and aphorisms culled from previous almanacs into a promise that men who worked hard, were prudent and frugal, would become rich. The people listened attentively, but once Father Abraham had finished they ‘immediately practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon,’ Poor Richard remarked ruefully; ‘for the vendue opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions, and their own fear of taxes.’ Under the title ‘The Way to Wealth’ the speech would become the most popular of all Franklin’s writings” (Hawke, 162-3). First published separately in 1760, this later English/French edition, “the prettiest yet printed” (Ford 135), was issued in a very limited number, purportedly with only a handful of copies on large paper (Brunet II:1383). With Observations sur les sauvages du nord de l’Amerique, together with French translations of La Science du Bonhomme Richard, Lettres du Franklin, Dialogue entre la Goutte et Franklin, and Quelques Mots sur l’Amerique. Bound with half title; with 31-page publisher’s catalogue at rear. Sabin 25596. Early owner signature on verso of half title. Interior clean and fine (tiny tear to lower corner of frontispiece margin), spine gently toned, printed paper label intact, light wear to extremities, near-fine and much nicer than often found. A most rare and desirable copy in original boards. "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." February 2022 – 27 – Bauman Rare Books
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