Franklin, Benjamin.

Political, Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces...

London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1779. First edition. A lovely copy of this important work by Franklin. Bound in contemporary tree calf, recently rebacked to style. Occasional browning or spotting to leaves, but an excellent copy overall. Collating: xii, [574]; complete with the frontis portrait of Franklin, three plates (one folding) and the folding chart. "[T]he only edition of Franklin’s writings (other than his scientific), which was printed during his life time; was done with Franklin’s knowledge and consent, and contains an ‘errata’ made by him for it” (Ford 342) .

One of America’s foremost founding fathers, a famed scientist, philosopher, and inventor. Over the course of his long and varied career, Franklin would serve as minister to France and Sweden, and as the first Postmaster General of the United States. By his late twenties, Franklin had already achieved significant renown as an author, with the publication of Poor Richard’s Almanac and by his 50s he had made important contributions to the study of electricity and demographics. (Science would fascinate Franklin his entire life – and he would make significant discoveries and inventions until his death.) Franklin also played numerous instruments and, interestingly enough, is thought to have been the first recorded chess player in the thirteen colonies. During the revolution, Franklin served on missions to England in addition to being one of Pennsylvania’s delegates to the Continental Congress. He would go on to become ambassador to France and later was again appointed a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Franklin is also the only founding father to have his name affixed to the Declaration of Independence, the treaty of Alliance with France, The Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution. (Item #1698)