(Constitutions of the United States)Constitutions des treize États Unis de l'Amérique. Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Benjamin Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783
8vo (189 x 120 mm). Woodcut seal of the United States on title-page; first and last few leaves rather foxed, some scattered lesser foxing throughout, occasional very light and unobtrusive dampstaining at top margin, tiny hole to upper margin of title-page. Contemporary French mottled calf, spine gilt in six compartments with label in the second, marbled endpapers, red edges; extremities quite rubbed, head of spine chipped.
First collected edition in French; a presentation copy given by the translator, the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, inscribed by the recipient on the title-page: "Ex dono Domini Ducis de La Rochefoucaud Paris Franciae qui pact a haec Americana ex anglico idiomate in gallicum transtulit anno 1783."
Franklin was the ambassador to the French Court and had just completed negotiations with Great Britain for the independence of the United States when he conceived the idea of the present work. The work was translated by the Duc de la Rouchefocauld at Franklin's suggestion and includes over fifty footnote annotations by Franklin. Besides the thirteen state constitutions, the work includes the texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the treaties between the United States and France, the Low Countries, and Sweden. The title-page bears the first appearance in book form of the seal of the United States: the eagle, thirteen stars, and shield bearing thirteen stripes.
Franklin explain his intentions—albeit after the fact—to Thomas Mifflin, president of the Confederation Congress, in a letter of 25 December 1783: "The extravagant Misrepresentations of our Political State, in foreign Countries, made it appear necessary to give them better Information, which I thought could not be more effectually and authentically done than by publishing a Translation into French, now the most general Language in Europe, of the Book of Constitutions which had been printed by Order of Congress. This I accordingly got well done. … It has been well taken, and has afforded Matter of Surprise to many, who had conceived mean Ideas of the State of Civilization in America, and could not have expected so much political Knowledge and Sagacity had existed in our Wilderness. And from all Parts I have the Satisfaction to hear that our Constitutions in general are much admired. I am persuaded that this Step will not only tend to promote the Emigration to our Country of substantial People from all Parts of Europe, by the numerous Copies I shall dispense, but will facilitate our future Treaties with Foreign Courts, who could not before know what kind of Government and People they had to treat with. As in doing this I have endeavour’d to further the apparent Views of Congress in the first Publication, I hope it may be approved, and the Expence allow’d."
In addition to the five hundred copies printed, as here, in octavo format, Franklin had one hundred copies imposed as quartos on large-paper papier velin for diplomatic presentation.
REFERENCE:Echeverria, p. 313 ff; Howes C716; Livingston pp. 181–88; Sabin 16118; Streeter sale 2:1035
(Constitutions of the United States)Constitutions des treize États Unis de l'Amérique. Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Benjamin Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783
8vo (189 x 120 mm). Woodcut seal of the United States on title-page; first and last few leaves rather foxed, some scattered lesser foxing throughout, occasional very light and unobtrusive dampstaining at top margin, tiny hole to upper margin of title-page. Contemporary French mottled calf, spine gilt in six compartments with label in the second, marbled endpapers, red edges; extremities quite rubbed, head of spine chipped.
First collected edition in French; a presentation copy given by the translator, the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, inscribed by the recipient on the title-page: "Ex dono Domini Ducis de La Rochefoucaud Paris Franciae qui pact a haec Americana ex anglico idiomate in gallicum transtulit anno 1783."
Franklin was the ambassador to the French Court and had just completed negotiations with Great Britain for the independence of the United States when he conceived the idea of the present work. The work was translated by the Duc de la Rouchefocauld at Franklin's suggestion and includes over fifty footnote annotations by Franklin. Besides the thirteen state constitutions, the work includes the texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the treaties between the United States and France, the Low Countries, and Sweden. The title-page bears the first appearance in book form of the seal of the United States: the eagle, thirteen stars, and shield bearing thirteen stripes.
Franklin explain his intentions—albeit after the fact—to Thomas Mifflin, president of the Confederation Congress, in a letter of 25 December 1783: "The extravagant Misrepresentations of our Political State, in foreign Countries, made it appear necessary to give them better Information, which I thought could not be more effectually and authentically done than by publishing a Translation into French, now the most general Language in Europe, of the Book of Constitutions which had been printed by Order of Congress. This I accordingly got well done. … It has been well taken, and has afforded Matter of Surprise to many, who had conceived mean Ideas of the State of Civilization in America, and could not have expected so much political Knowledge and Sagacity had existed in our Wilderness. And from all Parts I have the Satisfaction to hear that our Constitutions in general are much admired. I am persuaded that this Step will not only tend to promote the Emigration to our Country of substantial People from all Parts of Europe, by the numerous Copies I shall dispense, but will facilitate our future Treaties with Foreign Courts, who could not before know what kind of Government and People they had to treat with. As in doing this I have endeavour’d to further the apparent Views of Congress in the first Publication, I hope it may be approved, and the Expence allow’d."
In addition to the five hundred copies printed, as here, in octavo format, Franklin had one hundred copies imposed as quartos on large-paper papier velin for diplomatic presentation.
REFERENCE:Echeverria, p. 313 ff; Howes C716; Livingston pp. 181–88; Sabin 16118; Streeter sale 2:1035
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