"AMERICA'S FIRST GREAT SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION": FIRST COMPLETE EDITION OF FRANKLIN'S ILLUSTRATED EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON ELECTRICITY, 1769, IN BEAUTIFUL CONTEMPORARY CALF-GILT, AN EXTRAORDINARY ASSOCIATION COPY WITH THE OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE OF FRANKLIN FRIEND AND CORRESPONDENT HUGH ROBERTS, PROMINENT PHILADELPHIA QUAKER

FRANKLIN, Benjamin. 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. London: For David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, 1769. Quarto, contemporary full brown calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label; pp. [2], iv, [2], 496 [i.e. 504], [16]. Housed in a custom chemise and clamshell box.

First complete edition of "the most important scientific book of 18th-century America" and "America's first great scientific contribution" (PMM), with seven engraved plates (two folding), association copy with the ownership signature of Hugh Roberts, close Franklin friend and life-long correpondent. An important edition, edited and revised by Franklin himself, and with material and footnotes appearing here for the first time, in beautiful contemporary full calf-gilt.

This first complete edition is the fourth edition of the original work; the earlier editions, each issued in three parts as separately published pamphlets usually bound together, were carelessly published. Franklin edited this new one-volume edition himself, significantly revising the text, adding for the first time a number of his own philosophical letters and papers, introducing footnotes, correcting errors, and adding an index (Cohen, Benjamin Franklin's Experiments). "Franklin's most important scientific publication," Experiments and Observations contains detailed accounts of the founding father's crucial kite and key experiment, his work with Leiden jars, lightning rods and charged clouds (Norman 830). "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" (PMM). "The lightning experiments caused Franklin's name to become known throughout Europe to the public at large and not merely to men of science. Joseph Priestley, in his History… of Electricity, characterized the experimental discovery that the lightning discharge is an electrical phenomenon as 'the greatest, perhaps, since the time of Sir Isaac Newton'… Franklin's achievement… marked the coming of age of electrical science and the full acceptance of the new field of specialization" (DSB). With rarely found half title; with errata and advertisement for this edition bound following preface leaf. Mispaginations, as noted in the advertisement/errata leaf; text is complete. Containing engraved ornamental initials, head- and tailpieces. Grolier American 10. Howes F320. Sabin 25506. Ford 307. ESTC T101040. Bookplate of Charles F. Roberts, dealer slip. Contemporary owner signature on title page of Philadelphia Quaker Hugh Roberts, a close friend of Franklin and life-long correspondent. Roberts, the son of Philadelphia mayor Edward Roberts and brother-in-law of physician Thomas Bond, shared Franklin's humanitarian and intellectual interests; in addition to being a member of Franklin's famous self- and community-improvement club "The Junto," he was also involved with the Library Company, the Union Fire Company (sometimes referred to as "Franklin's Bucket Brigade") and the Pennsylvania Hospital, all with strong Franklin associations. He was one of a select group of friends who purchased very early versions of the Franklin stove. Amidst the uproar over the Stamp Act, Franklin wrote Roberts from London thanking him for his "steady, continued Friendship"; later Franklin would warmly note that "We loved and still love one another; we are grown Gray together, and yet it is too early to Part" (Writings IV: 386-7). Roberts' correspondence with Franklin continued until Roberts' death in 1786.

Scattered light foxing to plates and text, evidence of paper clip on half title; minor expert restoration to spine extremities of handsome contemporary calf. An extraordinary association copy.