THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. First Edition. Mémoires de la vie Privée de Benjamin Franklin écrits par lui-même, et adressés à son fils: suivis d'un Précis historique de sa vie politique et de plusieurs pièces, relatives à ce père de la liberté In English: [Benjamin Franklin's Memoirs of Private Life written by himself, and addressed to his son: followed by a historical summary of his political life and several pieces, relating to this father of liberty] by Benjamin Franklin - 1791

THE AUTOBIORAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!FIRST EDITION.Printed in 1791.

FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING.

The exceedingly rare FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING of The Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin. The English edition of 1793 is a direct translation of this book.

This book is the true First Edition.The First English Edition of 1793 is the 'First English Edition', it is not the First Edition.
This French book is the true First Edition of The Autobiography Of Benjamin franklin.The English book is a direct translation from this French book.


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This French translation by Jacques Gibelin constitutes the first appearance of any part of Franklin's autobiography, covering Franklin's life until 1731, the year he founded the Library Company of Philadelphia. It was apparently translated into French from one of the two manuscript fair copies sent to friends in France for further advice.
The first English edition, itself a translation from this French edition, did not appear until 1793, after French, German, and Swedish editions had already been published.
Text in French. References: Ford 383. Howes F323. Sabin 25549. Streeter 4171.







This is the exceedingly rare true FIRST EDITION of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

It precedes the First English Edition of 1793 by 2 years.The First English Edition itself is a direct translation of this 1791 book.

Full title, translated into English:MEMOIRS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF AND ADDRESSED TO HIS SON: followed by a historical summary of his political life and several pieces, relating to this father of liberty.Chez Buisson, Librarire et al. Paris1791.
The true FIRST EDITION/FIRST PRINTING of The Autobiography of Benjamin franklin.

[MEMOIRS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN]Printed in 1791.The FIRST EDITION of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography.
Printed in 1791 in Paris, is the FIRST EDITION of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.It is therefore the most desirable form of the Autobiography.
It precedes the First English Edition, which itself was a direct translation of this 1791 book.



Full Title:Mémoires de la vie Privée de Benjamin Franklin écrits par lui-même, et adressés à son fils: suivis d'un Précis historique de sa vie politique et de plusieurs pièces, relatives à ce père de la libertéIn English:[Benjamin Franklin's Memoirs of Private Life written by himself, and addressed to his son: followed by a historical summary of his political life and several pieces, relating to this father of liberty]

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"The most widely read of all American autobiographies… [Franklin's] holds the essence of the American way of life" (Grolier American 21).

Written during four different periods from 1771 to 1789, "this account is the epitome of Franklin's spirit. In it one sees him as a typical though great example of 18th-century enlightenment, a Yankee Puritan who could agree with Rousseau and Voltaire, and use the language of Defoe and Addison with a genial homely twang" (Hart, 142).

This French translation by Jacques Gibelin constitutes the first appearance of any part of Franklin's autobiography, covering Franklin's life until 1731, the year he founded the Library Company of Philadelphia. It was apparently translated into French from one of the two manuscript fair copies sent to friends in France for further advice. The first English edition, itself a translation from this French edition, did not appear until 1793, after French, German, and Swedish editions had already been published. Translations sometimes obscure intended meaning, and Franklin's autobiography is no exception: on page 60, the phrase "Keimer avoit l'air stupéfait," translated from the English fair copy manuscript, was translated back into English for the 1793 edition as, "Keimer stared with astonishment." The fair copy actually reads, "Keimer star'd like a Pig poison'd." Despite problems of nuance between languages, this remains the ultimate treatise on man's ability to better himself, notable for its humorous pragmatism and vivid portrayal of early 18th-century colonial America. Text in French. With mispagination of four final text pages, as always. Ford 383. Howes F323. Sabin 25549. Streeter 4171

True first edition (preceding the first English edition by two years), in two parts, of Franklin's renowned autobiography, "the most widely read of all American autobiographies," scarce in contemporary boards.

Abrasion to the original binding. Some foxing. Some relatively light signs of usage, with some generalized usage wear. Printed on quality rag paper. Spine rebacked, leather cover edge worn, bumped corners with some abrasion to the extremities. Some cover lift as book was stored in the clamshell without pressure. Book is currently stored outside of the clamshell, the benefit of tension from adjacent books. Original end papers are present, with the original covers, some relatively light foxing. Pen notation to blank flyleaf. Light foxing to pages. Slipcase has very light shelf wear, discolored spot on spine.
Franklin, Benjamin 'Memoires de la Vie Privee' Memories of a private life. Chea Buisson, Paris, 1791. First edition. [207]pp., with the final pages 204-207 correctly misnumbered as 360-363, as issued. Text in French. Spine rebacked with calf leather, original leather boards. Marbled endpapers. Slipcase has cloth boards, leather spine. Approx. Measurements: 5"x7.75"x1.25" thickHoused in a custom clamshell box.