The first edition of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, of which the first English edition was printed under title: The private life of the late Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. late minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America to France, &c. &c. &c., London, 1793

Translated by Jacques Gibelin. The portion written by Franklin covers only to the year 1731, and the remainder of his life is a translation from Wilmer's Memoirs of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, printed London, 1790, with considerable alterations. Cf. Ford

"Recueil de pièces, fragmens et anecdotes relatives a B. Franklin", pt. 2, p. 111-199, includes "La science du bonhomme Richard", p. 175-196, with separate caption title, translated by Antoine-François Quétant (according to NUC Pre-1956), and an excerpt "Assemblée nationale de France. Séance du 11 juin 1790" on p. 196-199

Pagination: pt. 1: [2], vi, 156 p.; pt. 2: 203, 360-363, [1] p

Signatures: pt. 1: a⁴ (a1 verso blank) A-I⁸ K⁶; pt. 2: A-N⁸ (N8 verso blank)

Errors in paging: pt. 1, p. 18 and 154 misnumbered 28 and 254

Engraved printer's ornament on title page

Ford, P.L. Franklin bibliography

Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time

Bibliothèque nationale (France). Catalogue de lhistoire de la Révolution française

John Carter Brown Library copy half bound in contemporary calf with marbled boards

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