Beschreibung:

Title: Experiments and Observations on Electricity made at Philadelphia in America... 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 Author: Franklin, Benjamin Place: London Publisher: Printed for David Henry and sold by Francis Newbery Date: 1769 Description: [2], iv, 496, [16] pp. Advertisement & errata leaf inserted following title. Illustrated with 7 copper-engraved plates, 4 of which are folding. (4to) 22.5x16.5 cm. (8¾x6¾"), period calf gilt-stamped "Wakefield" on front cover, raised spine bands, morocco lettering piece, marbled edges. Fourth Edition in English, and first collected edition. First complete edition of "the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America" (PMM) - and the fourth overall - together with the first printings of other texts. Earlier editions of Franklin's editions of Franklin's electricity were published in separate parts. "The most dramatic result of Franklin's researches was the proof that lightning is really an electrical phenomenon. Others had made such a suggestion before him--even Newton himself--but it was he who provided the experimental proof. In 1752 he flew a kite in a thunderstorm and attached a key to its string. From this he collected electric charges in a Leiden jar and showed that atmospheric and frictional or machine-made electricity are the same...His reputation as a scientist was immediately established by the publication of the results of his researches in a series of letters addressed to Peter Collinson, a London merchant and naturalist..." (PMM). The first edition was published between 1751 and 1754. PMM 199 (1st Ed); Sabin 25506; Waller 11340; Wellcome III, p.62. Ownership signature and shelfmark of J. Willison to front pastedown. Lot Amendments Condition: Leather scuffed, joints cracking but cords still sound; 1 plate with 5" stub tear, another with 2 short tears (Only 1 into image) and a dampstain, marginal tear to pp. 299-300; Plate 7 with portion trimmed off presumably during binding, resulting in partial loss of image and the plate number; still a very good, unsophisticated copy in contemporary binding. Item number: 213687