179

Benjamin FRANKLIN.

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Edited . . . by John Bigelow.

Philadelphia, 1868
Frontispiece portrait. 409 pages. Large 12mo (quarto-sized), publisher's cloth, minimal wear; minor foxing to plate; #49 of 100 copies on large paper; early collector's bookplate on front pastedown. 

"This is not only the first appearance of the autobiography from Franklin's own copy, but also the first publication in English of the four parts, and the first publication of the very important outline autobiography. It is therefore the first edition of THE autobiography. . . . Mr. Bigelow has so thoroughly told the story of the history and recovery of this original MS. of Franklin . . . that nothing is left to say"--Ford, Franklin 423. Howes F323 ("aa").

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