2702

Printed in the shop where Ben Franklin learne

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:225.00 USD Estimated At:450.00 - 650.00 USD
Printed in the shop where Ben Franklin learne
Printed in the shop where Ben Franklin learned the trade. Exquisite Americana: a very early book from the press of James Franklin, at the time that his young brother Ben was apprenticed to him, learning the printing trade. Because of certain features, described below, this book may well have been handled by Ben himself. English Liberties, or the Free-born Subject's Inheritance. "Containing Magna Charta, Charta de Foresta, The Statute De Tallagio non concedendo, The Habeas Corpus Act... Likewise The Proceedings in Appeals of Murder...With many Law-Cases throughout the Whole." "Boston: Printed by J. Franklin, for N. Buttolph, B. Eliot, and D. Henchman, and Sold at their Shops. 1721." 4 x 6 3/4 , 288 pp., original full calf. Benjamin was only 15 years of age at this time. He was apprenticed to brother James at age 12, in 1718, and left Boston in 1723, after a disagreement. As a fascinating subject for speculation, the volume contains a significant bindery error: several signatures were omitted in binding! (We are very certain that they were not removed at a later date.) The absent pages include (at least) 171-190, 195-214, 219-238, and 247-258; note that all deficiencies are twenty-page increments, and were not excised by a reader at a later date. Are these errors the work of an inexperienced or distracted young Benjamin? Numerous ink signatures of Joseph and Gideon Cotton, West Springfield, Jan. 30, 1786 and Oct. 10, 1787, on front flyleaves. Considerable wear of boards, but lending a charming, "museum-case" patina, some handling soiling on fore-edges, else generally good plus. A wonderful conversation piece for a Franklin collection!