Beschreibung:

FRANKLIN, Benjamin]. Constitutions des treize États-unis de l'Amérique . Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783. 8 o (7¾ x 5 in.). Title-page with circular woodcut Great Seal of the United States (its first use in a printed book). (Extremely minor spotting to a few margins.) Contemporary French half calf and terra-cotta paper boards, rounded spine tooled in gilt, red morocco gilt-lettered spine label, edges stained red (board edges and spine worn). FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, one of 500 copies printed. 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 (100 of which were large-paper). The collection comprises, besides each of the 13 state constitutions, the Declaration of Independence (pp.419-425, with all Signers named), the Articles of Confederation, several treaties with France and one with Sweden. Franklin's aims in publishing the edition were expressed in a letter to 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...." 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.