Benjamin Franklin’s first edition copy of Cambridge’s account of the progression of the Seven Years’ War in India, from Franklin’s private library. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 12 engraved maps and plans and 6 plates, mostly folding. From the private library of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s contributions to science and politics were immense and his passion for making books more available to a broader audience prompted him to establish North America’s first subscription library. In 1731, Franklin convinced the members of his Junto (a mutual improvement club he founded) to pool their money to purchase books they would collectively share. The collection became the Library Company of Philadelphia and is now regarded as the predecessor to the public library. Franklin was also instrumental in the establishment of the Library of the Pennsylvania Hospital (North America’s first medical library), the Pennsylvania State Library, The Library of the American Philosophical Society, and the Library of the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin’s private library has a long and complex history and although he was known to have produced a list its contents shortly before his death, it has never been discovered. After his death in 1790, a large portion of his library became the property of his grandson, William Temple Franklin who, upon receiving it, quickly sold it to financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence Robert Morris. When Morris went bankrupt at the end of the decade, the collection went into the hands of Philadelphia bookseller and former French tutor Nicholas G. Dufief (in 1801), who began offering volumes for sale to the public. Dufief attempted to interest Congress in obtaining most of the library, but ultimately sent most of it to auction. On March 12, 1803 Philadelphia auctioneers Shannon & Poalk sold the library and Philadelphia attorney William Rawle purchased the present volume, inscribing it: “W. Rawle 1803 – bo’t at sale of Dr. Franklin’s library.” Dufief was also known to have compiled a list of the contents of Franklin’s library, but it has never been recovered and, although printed catalogs were known to be issued advertising the contents of the 1803 Shannon & Poalk auction, a copy has not been located. Philadelphia autograph collector Ferdinand J. Dreer obtained this copy and in 1886 and presented it to the Society of the Sons of St. George. In good condition. With Dreer’s bookplate and presentation inscription. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Rare and desirable from Franklin’s private library and with noted provenance.
