BAUMAN RARE BOOKS 32 41FRANKLIN, Benjamin. Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America… To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. London, 1769. Quarto, contemporary full brown calf rebacked, custom chemise, clamshell box. $39,000 First complete edition of “the most important scientific book of 18th-century America” and “America’s first great scientific contribution” (PMM 199), with seven engraved plates (five folding). An important edition, edited and revised by Franklin himself, and with material and footnotes appearing here for the first time. Rare in contemporary calf boards. This first complete edition is the fourth edition of the original work; the earlier editions, each issued in three parts as separately published pamphlets usually bound together, were carelessly published. Franklin edited this new one-volume edition himself, significantly revising the text, adding for the first time a number of his own philosophical letters and papers, introducing footnotes, correcting errors, and adding an index (Cohen, Benjamin Franklin’s Experiments). “Franklin’s most important scientific publication,” Experiments and Observations contains detailed accounts of the founding father’s crucial kite and key experiment, his work with Leiden jars, lightning rods and charged clouds (Norman 830). With rarely found half title; along with errata and advertisement leaf (rarely found) bound after title page. Scattered light foxing to interior, closed tear to first folding plate expertly repaired. Expert restoration to extremities of contemporary calf boards. An excellent copy of a scarce and important scientific first edition. “America’s First Great Scientific Contribution”
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