Benjamin Franklin's 2nd edition sells for 29,000 in Dublin.
Benjamin Franklin’s New Experiments and Observations on Electricity sold for 29,000 at Mealy’s rare book sale in Dublin on April 24. The three part book by one of the founding fathers of the US had been estimated at 3,500-5,000. It was from the library at Barne Park in Co. Tipperary and was part of the Ricardi Moore collection sold at the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin.
Benjamin Franklin made his observations at Philadelphia. A major figure in the history of physics his many inventions included the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove. He formed the first public library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.
The 1754 second edition parts I and 2, and possibly first edition part 3, was inscribed inside the front cover: ‘ex. Libris ricardi Moore pd. for this Vol. 4-4paid, besides Binding.’ At the same auction A History of Air by Robert Boyle, father of modern chemistry, sold for 6,500. The collection of 880 lots was 75 per cent sold.
See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for April 23, April 21 and April 13.