Beschreibung:

U.S. CONSTITUTION]. -- [FRANKLIN, Benjamin]. Constitutions des treize Etats-Unis de l'Amerique . Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783.
U.S. CONSTITUTION]. -- [FRANKLIN, Benjamin]. Constitutions des treize Etats-Unis de l'Amerique . Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783. 8 o (198 x 124mm). 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 polished mottled calf, covers with gilt triple rule, upper cover gilt-lettered "M. Etroupenat Notaire A Bordeaux," smooth spine in 8 compartments, gilt-lettered in one, gilt-decorated in the rest, marbled edges (upper joint starting at top). Provenance : M. Etroupenat of Bordeaux (binding). FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, one of 600 copies printed. Translated by the Duc de la Rochefoucault at Franklin's suggestion, probably incorporating many footnotes by Franklin and printed for Franklin. 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 and treaties with France, the Netherlands and 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 C-716; Livingston, Franklin and His Press at Passy , pp.181-188; Sabin 16118; Streeter sale 1II:1035.