Name/Title
Experiments and Observations on ElectricityDescription
London: Printed for David Henry, and sold by Francis Newbery, 1769. [2], iv, [2],496[i.e. 510, accounting for mispagination, plus four extra pages where the page numbers have been duplicated, i.e. page numbers 112-113 and 416-417 appear twice], [16]pp. Including leaf of errata and advertisement "concerning this fourth edition." Illustrations plus seven engraved plates (two folding).
This is the fourth, first collected, and by far most desirable edition, containing for the first time complete notes on all the experiments, as well as correspondence between Peter Collinson, Franklin, and other collaborators. Franklin began experimenting with electricity as early as 1745, demonstrating the electrical property of lightning and inventing the lightning conductor. This volume includes: summaries of his work with Leyden jars, charged clouds, an lightning rods, as well as his famous kite and key experiment. I addition to the electrical experiments it contains the importar discovery of the course of storms over North America and othe important meteorological observations.
The work caused a sensation in the scientific world when firs published in 1751, and ranked in the eyes of many of Franklin' contemporaries as far beyond any of his political achievements Harvard and Yale awarded him honorary degrees in 1753; he receive the highest award of the Royal Society, the Copley Medal, the same year; and he was elected to the Society in 1756, the first America to be so honored.
This fourth edition is the first complete edition of the original work. The earlier editions were issued in separately published parts. Franklin edited this new one-volume edition himself, significantly revising the text, adding for the first time a number of his own philosophical letters and papers, introducing footnotes, correcting errors, and adding an index. This copy includes the errata/advertisement leaf which is often lacking. "America's first great scientific contribution" - Howes.Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
ReferencesOther Number
Ford 307, Milestones of Science 69, Howes F-320 (B)Condition
Overall Condition
ExcellentDate Examined
Jan 4, 2024Notes
4to. Original marbled boards, expertly rebacked in matching leather, retaining the orig. leather spine label, raised spine bands, fully untrimmed. Housed in a custom 1/4 morocco and cloth box. Small previous owner's bookplate on front