EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON ELECTRICITY, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects; The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates
London: Printed for David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, 1769. First Complete Edition. Hardcover. Quarto (6-3/4" x 9") bound in new calf leather boards retaining the original gilt-decorated spine with a gilt-lettered red morocco spine label; [iv], iv, 113, 112-472, 465-496 (with two different consecutive pages numbered 111-112; page 291 mis-numbered 261; two different consecutive pages numbered 416-417; and after page 472, page numbering reverts to 465 through 496, some of these mis-numberings are listed in the Errata page), [16] pages. Illustrated with 7 copper-engraved plates, 2 of which are folding. Fourth Edition overall but First Complete Edition of Franklin's most important scientific publication (containing detailed accounts of his kite and key experiments and his work with Leiden jars, lightning rods, and charged clouds) and considered to be "the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America" and "America's first great scientific contribution" (PRINTING AND THE MIND OF MAN 199). Earlier editions were issued in three parts as separately published pamphlets. Mild to moderate foxing with occasional small stain and minor paper repairs; half-title lacking upper blank margin, now professionally repaired; original endpapers lacking and replaced; binding Fine. Item #022501
Price: $25,000.00