[Franklin, Benjamin]. Expériences et observations sur l'électricité faites à Philadelphie en Amérique par M. Benjamin Franklin; & communiquées dans plusieurs lettres à M.P. Collinson de la Société Royale de Londres. Paris, Durand, 1752. Rare first French edition. Hardcover, 8vo. Contemporary binding, French marbled paper, showing considerable wear; spine well-worn with pieces of paper cover missing. Collates complete except for Qviii, probably a blank. Title page about 1/8" short. Light foxing. Sabine, 25505 (for the original English edition published in 1751). After a bad translation of Franklin's book came into the possession of the great French naturalist Buffon, he ordered Thomas-François d'Alibard to make this translation. It became the reference book for those interested in electricity.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500.
Colonial and Revolutionary America
