(Franklin, Benjamin) | A superb presentation copy from Benjamin Franklin to Louis XVI's personal physician

(Franklin, Benjamin)

Constitutions des treize Etats-Unis de L'Amérique. Philadelphia and Paris: [Printed for Franklin by] Philippe-Denis Pierres and Pissot, 1783

4to (251 x 191 mm). Title with woodcut seal of the United States, half-title; minimal wear and soiling. French red morocco gilt, spine gilt in 6 compartments, gilt arms of Joseph-Marie-Francois de Lassone on covers, edges gilt, blue patterned endpapers; very good with minimal wear. Red morocco gilt clamshell case.

The Franklin-inspired French edition of the constitutions of the original thirteen states of the newly created United States, with the first appearance in book form of the great seal of the United States. This copy is the very rare large-paper quarto issue printed on papier velin for presentation by Franklin.

Franklin was the ambassador to the French Court and had just completed negotiations with Great Britain for the independence of the United States. 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, stars, and stripes.

On 25 December 1783, Franklin wrote to Thomas Mifflin, President of the Continental Congress, "… 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, and presented two Copies handsomely bound to every foreign Minister here …. 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 Expense allow'd. …" 

The elegantly bound quarto edition on papier velin was printed for Franklin strictly for presentation. This copy bears the arms of Joseph-Marie-Francois de Lassone (1717–88), the first physician to King Louis XVI and to Queens Marie Leszczynska and Marie Antoinette. Lassone was also one of the founders of the Royal Academy of Medicine, to which Franklin was inducted in 1777. An early inscription on the verso of the half-title confirms that this copy was presented to the original owner by Franklin himself: "Il avait été donné par B. Francklin [sic] a M. de Lassone, medecin de Louis Seize, de fils celuy-cy m'en fit présent en 1794. V. S."

While the small-paper issue of this work is common, the large-paper issue on papier velin is a major rarity, and a tribute to Franklin's taste and care as a printer and publisher. Only a few copies have appeared at auction. The La Rochefoucauld copy, in a similar red morocco armorial binding, realized the equivalent of $126,500 at Sotheby's Monaco in 1987. 

PROVENANCE

Joseph-Francois-Marie de Lassone (armorial binding), given by his children in 1794 to — "V. S." (inscription) — Jean R. Perrette (bookplate; Christie's New York, 5 April 2016, lot 381)

REFERENCE

Celebration of My Country 100; Durand Echeverria, "French Publications of the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitutions, 1776–1783" in Bibliographical Society of America Papers 47 (1953), p. 313 ff; Howes C716; Livingston, Franklin & His Press at Passy, pp 181–88; Sabin 16118