Political, Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces;: arranged under the following heads... Now first collected, with explanatory plates, notes and an index to the whole.

London: printed for J. Johnson,, 1779. The scarcer and more desirable quarto impression First edition, first impression, in quarto format, of the only lifetime collection of Franklin's writings aside from scientific works, many of the papers herein being attributed for the first time. The edition was afterwards re-impressed in octavo format, in which form the book is generally encountered; this initial quarto form is naturally much more desirable and is scarcer in commerce. The collection was edited by Franklin's close friend, the British diplomat and political reformer Benjamin Vaughan, with Franklin's approval and assistance (Franklin contributes a seven-page "Addenda and Corrigenda"). Vaughan was to be a vital voice of reason during the peace negotiations in Paris which ended the American Revolutionary War, mediating between Franklin and Lord Shelburne, for whom he acted as a confidential adviser and private secretary. To judge from contemporary reviews, the book met with a favourable reaction from the British audience despite the ongoing war. Franklin's scientific papers were published in collected editions in the 1750s; some scientific papers are also included here. Quarto (231 x 175 mm). Contemporary half calf, red morocco label and gilt monogram to spine, marbled sides. Housed in a brown quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. Portrait frontispiece and 3 other plates, one of them folding, folding table. Neat ownership initials "W.S.H" to title page, matching gilt spine monogram. Joints and extremities neatly restored. Sporadic light foxing, light browning at head of first few leaves, tiny hole grazing a couple of letters to leaf M3, in all other respects an excellent, crisp copy. Adams 79-38a; ESTC T58635; Howes F330; Sabin 25565.