Des herrn Benjamin Franklins Esq Briefe von de Elektricitat
Des herrn Benjamin Franklins Esq
Briefe von de Elektricitat. Aus dem Englandischen uberseket, nebst Anmertungen von J. C. Wilcke. Leipzig: verlegts Gottfriec Riesewetter,
1758. 1st German ed. 8vo. 354pp.
First edition in German of Franklin's work on electricity translated from the second English edition of 1754. The second part of the work (pp. 215-354) is Wilcke's commentary on his translation. "Explains Franklin's work, praises and recommends the frontispiece depicts various electrical phenomena. There are two known states of the first German edition: with an erratum on p 354, and without. This copy includes the erratum above the printer's device. From the library of the Jesuit College of Nysa (Neisse), with a stamp on title page of the verso.
Rare. Worldcat locates only 27 copies and no copies appear in RareBookHub
The German translation of the electrical letters, with the translator's annotations. Franklin's theory reached the German universities through this edition, and it was in Germany that the lightning rod met its most determined theological resistance — and its most careful experimental confirmation.
- Date
- Leipzig, 1758
- Author / maker
- Franklin, Benjamin
- Condition
- Frontis. Contemporary speckled paper-covered boards with leather spine label. Expected mild toning throughout, minor wear to paper on spine, former owner's signature on title page, ex-library stamp on verso of title page, else very good.
- References
- Ford 82
“Des herrn Benjamin Franklins Esq Briefe von de Elektricitat.” The Soiferman Collection, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. EIS LIBRIS, https://eislibris.com/objects/des-herrn-benjamin-franklins-esq-briefe-von-de-elektricitat (accessed [date]).
