![[FRANKLIN, Benjamin, printer (1706 -1790)]. CICERO, Marcus Tullius (106-43 B.C.). M.T. Cicero's Cato Major, or his Discourse of Old-Age: with explanatory notes. Translated by James Logan (1674-1751). Philadelphia: Printed and sold by Benjamin Franklin, 1744.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1999/NYR/1999_NYR_09178_0106_000(115054).jpg?w=1)
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[FRANKLIN, Benjamin, printer (1706 -1790)]. CICERO, Marcus Tullius (106-43 B.C.). M.T. Cicero's Cato Major, or his Discourse of Old-Age: with explanatory notes. Translated by James Logan (1674-1751). Philadelphia: Printed and sold by Benjamin Franklin, 1744.
4o (204 x 147 mm). Title-page printed in red and black. (Tiny wormhole to lower margin of first seven leaves, not affecting text.) Contemporary half calf and marbled boards, gilt-lettered red morocco label "Old Age." (Upper cover detached, boards and edges rubbed.) Provenance: Hannah Ward (eighteenth-century owner's signature at top of title).
FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE of quire "D" (with misprint "ony" on page 27), one of the copies printed on Genoese paper (three circles watermark). Generally recognized as Franklin's typographic masterpiece, the Cato Major was translated by his friend, the American scientist, statesman and bibliophile, James Logan. It was at the insistance of Franklin that Logan agreed to publish the translation, prepared some ten years earlier. In the Printer's note to the reader Franklin writes of Logan's translation: "I believed it to be in itself equal at least, if not far preferable to any other Translation of the same Piece extant in our Language, besides the Advantage it has of so many valuable Notes, which at the same time they clear up the Text, are highly instructive and entertaining; I resolved to give it an Impression." Other than his almanacs, Cato Major is the best known work from Franklin's press. A LARGE, UNSOPHISTICATED COPY OF FRANKLIN'S TYPOGRAPHIC MASTERPIECE. Church 949; Evans 5361; Miller 347; Norman 484; Sabin 13040.
While copies of Franklin's Cato, perhaps the best-known 18th century American book, is by no means rare, many copies were cut down and rebound in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The present copy is relatively large, with the deckle edges of many leaves preserved. Miller notes that the book was advertised as being available "stich'd in marbled covers" and notes two copies in bindings similar to the present (Yale University Library and New York Historical Society) among the large number he examined.
4o (204 x 147 mm). Title-page printed in red and black. (Tiny wormhole to lower margin of first seven leaves, not affecting text.) Contemporary half calf and marbled boards, gilt-lettered red morocco label "Old Age." (Upper cover detached, boards and edges rubbed.) Provenance: Hannah Ward (eighteenth-century owner's signature at top of title).
FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE of quire "D" (with misprint "ony" on page 27), one of the copies printed on Genoese paper (three circles watermark). Generally recognized as Franklin's typographic masterpiece, the Cato Major was translated by his friend, the American scientist, statesman and bibliophile, James Logan. It was at the insistance of Franklin that Logan agreed to publish the translation, prepared some ten years earlier. In the Printer's note to the reader Franklin writes of Logan's translation: "I believed it to be in itself equal at least, if not far preferable to any other Translation of the same Piece extant in our Language, besides the Advantage it has of so many valuable Notes, which at the same time they clear up the Text, are highly instructive and entertaining; I resolved to give it an Impression." Other than his almanacs, Cato Major is the best known work from Franklin's press. A LARGE, UNSOPHISTICATED COPY OF FRANKLIN'S TYPOGRAPHIC MASTERPIECE. Church 949; Evans 5361; Miller 347; Norman 484; Sabin 13040.
While copies of Franklin's Cato, perhaps the best-known 18th century American book, is by no means rare, many copies were cut down and rebound in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The present copy is relatively large, with the deckle edges of many leaves preserved. Miller notes that the book was advertised as being available "stich'd in marbled covers" and notes two copies in bindings similar to the present (Yale University Library and New York Historical Society) among the large number he examined.