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Franklin on American Paper Money

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:275.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 USD
Franklin on American Paper Money
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Franklin, (Benjamin). REMARKS AND FACTS RELATIVE TO THE AMERICAN PAPER MONEY. BY DR. FRANKLIN. WRITTEN IN LONDON, ANNO 1764. Philadelphia: American Museum (Vol. II, No. I), July 1787. Second edition, 1789. 8vo, disbound. 103, (1) pages [see comments]; complete issue present. Minor discoloration. Near fine. The issue of Mathew Carey's important periodical begins with the complete text of Franklin's essay, and is followed by a number of other historic tracts on American paper currency, occupying pages 17 through 72. The prefatory text at the beginning of the issue explains its raison d'être: "The printer of the American Museum hopes he will be regarded as rendering an acceptable service to his fellow-citizens, by publishing in the present number, some of the most valuable of the essays which have appeared on the subject of paper-money, pour et contre.--Every man, whether an advocate or opposer of paper-emissions, must readily and without hesitation allow, that the subject is as interesting to this country as almost any other whatsoever. The difference in sentiment relative to paper-money, has given rife to a spirit of party, in several of the states. In Maryland, particularly, it lately occasioned a very disagreeable contest and altercation between the two branches of the legislature. A publication, therefore, which unites together the most powerful reasoning on both sides, and thus affords every man of candor and discernment, a full opportunity to form a just and decided opinion of the propriety or impropriety of paper-emissions, can scarcely meet with disapprobation or censure from any but the interested and prejudiced." The remainder of the issue is comprised of accounts of storms, waterspouts, and other weather-related phenomena written by Franklin and others, along with articles on the origin of tobacco and "The way to make money plenty in every man's pocket," both written by Franklin, "On the virtues of a billiard-table," and other curiosa. Evans 21646.