1777 – Poor Richards, Way to Wealth – Benjamin Franklin | Pennsylvania Constitution

Benjamin Franklin’s works have long been some of the most popular pieces of literature since the 18th-century. Works such as ‘Book of Virtues’ and ‘Way to Wealth’ have continued to be read even into the 21st century. ‘Wealth’ is best-known for containing some of the most iconic anecdotal phrases pertaining to wealth including:

• “no pain, no gain”
• “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”
• “for want of a nail…”
• “don’t put off ‘til tomorrow what can be done today”

This exceedingly rare 1777 French edition called La science du bonhomme Richard was translated out of the original English by A.F. Quétant who included other important Franklin works including his 1766 examination of British Parliament, an examination of William Penn at Parliament, and perhaps most notably the Constitution of the Republic of Pennsylvania from 1776.

Interestingly, this example is bound with Charles et Helene de Moldorf – a German novel by A. G. Meissner, translated into Frech by Isabelle de Montoleiu.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: La science du bonhomme Richard ou moyen facile de payer les impôts
• Author(s): Benjamin Franklin
• Contributor(s): A.F. Quétant (Translator)
• Publisher: A Philadelphie [i.e. Paris]; Chez Ruault
• Edition: First edition, 1777.
• Binding: Half leather with marbled boards
• Format: (12mo), single volume – two works bound together
• Size:  6.25 x 4 in (16 x 10 cm)
• Collation: 151, [1], [4] pp
  • A. G. Meissner’s Charles et Hélène – 290 p
• Illustrations: a few vignettes at the end of sections
  • Includes portrait frontispiece of Franklin
• References: Sabin 25585
• Contents Include:
  • The Way to Wealth from Poor Richard’s Almanack
  • Franklin’s examination before Parliament, 1766
  • Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
  • Examination of Mr. Penn before Parliament
  • French translation of A. G. Meissner’s Charles et Hélène

Condition:

Very Good. Leather binding tight and secure with moderate edgewear. Gilt remains visible on the spine. Pages generally clean. Portrait frontispiece is included.

Why Collect This?

• First French edition of Franklin’s economic and moral writings
• Contains early American political documents from 1776
• Appealing to collectors of Americana and Enlightenment
• Curiously bound with A. G. Meissner’s Charles et Hélène

Item Number: #50261