![[FRANKLIN, Benjamin]. Constitutions des treize tats-unis de l'Amrique. Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1999/NYR/1999_NYR_09178_0107_000(115054).jpg?w=1)
Details
[FRANKLIN, Benjamin]. Constitutions des treize tats-unis de l'Amrique. Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783.
4o (245 x 186 mm). Half-title, title-page with circular woodcut Great Seal of the United States (its first use in a printed book). (Very minor spotting to a few pages.) Contemporary French half tan calf and terra-cotta paper boards, flat spine sparingly tooled in gilt, red morocco gilt-lettered spine label, edges stained red (several tiny holes at hinges, minor rubbing).
FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, translated by the Duc de la Rochefoucauld at Franklin's suggestion, probably incorporating some 50 footnotes by Franklin and printed for Franklin in an edition of 600 copies. A VERY RARE LARGE-PAPER COPY, imposed on fine-quality quarto paper, one of only 100 copies issued. The collection comprises, besides the full text of each of the 13 state constitutions, the Declaration of Independence (with the names of all its signers), the Articles of Confederation and the texts of several treaties with France and one with Sweden. Franklin's aims in publishing the translation were expressed in a letter to delegate Thomas Mifflin of 25 December 1783: "The extravagant Misrepresentations of our Political State in foreign Countries, made it appear necessary to give them better Information, which I thought could not be more efectually and authentically done, than by publishing a Translation into French, now the most general Language in Europe, of the Book of Constitutions, which had been printed by Order of Congress. This I accordingly got well done, and ... am persuaded that this Step will not only tend to promote the Emigration to our Country of substantial People from all Parts of Europe, by the numerous Copies I shall disperse, but will facilitate our future Treaties with foreign Courts, who could not before know what kind of Government and People they had to treat with." The obverse of the Great Seal, designed by Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson, makes its first appearance in a book on this titlepage. Howes C716; Livingston, Franklin and His Press at Passy, pp.181-188; Sabin 16118; Streeter Sale 1035 (regular issue). No copy of the large-paper edition is recorded at auction since at least 1975.
4o (245 x 186 mm). Half-title, title-page with circular woodcut Great Seal of the United States (its first use in a printed book). (Very minor spotting to a few pages.) Contemporary French half tan calf and terra-cotta paper boards, flat spine sparingly tooled in gilt, red morocco gilt-lettered spine label, edges stained red (several tiny holes at hinges, minor rubbing).
FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, translated by the Duc de la Rochefoucauld at Franklin's suggestion, probably incorporating some 50 footnotes by Franklin and printed for Franklin in an edition of 600 copies. A VERY RARE LARGE-PAPER COPY, imposed on fine-quality quarto paper, one of only 100 copies issued. The collection comprises, besides the full text of each of the 13 state constitutions, the Declaration of Independence (with the names of all its signers), the Articles of Confederation and the texts of several treaties with France and one with Sweden. Franklin's aims in publishing the translation were expressed in a letter to delegate Thomas Mifflin of 25 December 1783: "The extravagant Misrepresentations of our Political State in foreign Countries, made it appear necessary to give them better Information, which I thought could not be more efectually and authentically done, than by publishing a Translation into French, now the most general Language in Europe, of the Book of Constitutions, which had been printed by Order of Congress. This I accordingly got well done, and ... am persuaded that this Step will not only tend to promote the Emigration to our Country of substantial People from all Parts of Europe, by the numerous Copies I shall disperse, but will facilitate our future Treaties with foreign Courts, who could not before know what kind of Government and People they had to treat with." The obverse of the Great Seal, designed by Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson, makes its first appearance in a book on this titlepage. Howes C716; Livingston, Franklin and His Press at Passy, pp.181-188; Sabin 16118; Streeter Sale 1035 (regular issue). No copy of the large-paper edition is recorded at auction since at least 1975.