M.T. Cicero's Cato Major, or His Discourse of Old-Age

1744. (FRANKLIN IMPRINT). CICERO, Marcus Tullus. M.T. Cicero's Cato Major, or His Discourse of Old-Age: With Explanatory Notes. Phila.: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, 1744. 8vo. 1st American edition of Cicero's "Cato Major" and the first American translation. This is a copy of the second issue with "only" correctly spelled on page 27. Contemporary mottled calf bordered in floral gilt, raised spine bands, compartments gilt, red morocco spine label. Marbled endpapers, gilt-chamfered edges, all edges gilt. Inner hinges tape-reinforced, some rubbing to spine ends, corners worn. Contemporary ownership signature on titlepage (W. Adams), bookplates , a bit of faint scattered foxing, else a very good or better copy. Miller 347. Sabin 13040. Evans 5361. Church 949. Clark in "Mathew Carey" 347. Hildeburn 868. Library Company of Philadelphia "First American Editions" p.18. Reese, the Struggle for North America 2. "Probably the finest production of Franklin's press and really and really a splendid specimen of the art ... It is doubtless, the second classic author translated and printed in North America" (Sabin). "This work was translated, with explanatory notes, by Chief-Justice James Logan, net to Penn and Franklin, the most important character in the early history of Pennsylvania. It is generally conceded to be the finest product of Franklin's press, if not of the American press of the eighteenth century. It is really a beautiful specimen of the printer's art"- Church.