New Experiments and Observations Made on Electricity: Made at Philadelphia in America. Communicated in Several Letters to P. Collinson, Esq. of London. F.R.S.
Published by Printed and sold by D. Henry and R. Cave, London, 1754
- First Edition
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.Heritage Book Shop, ABAA
AbeBooks seller since March 25, 2008
Condition: Used
£ 19,347.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Full Description: FRANKLIN, Benjamin. New Experiments and Observations Made on Electricity. Made at Philadelphia in America. Communicated in Several Letters to P. Collinson, Esq. of London. F.R.S. London: Printed and sold by D. Henry and R. Cave, 1754. First collected edition and second edition overall. With the first edition of Part III. Three parts in one small quarto volume (9 x 6 7/8 inches; 227 x 174 mm). [2], 109, [6], 112-154 pp. One engraved folding plate in Part I. Engraved head and tail pieces. With separate title-pages for each part, each dated 1754. A few errors in pagination, but collation is correct. Continuous pagination and collation throughout all three parts. We could find no copies of this 1754 first collected edition at auction since 1996. Bound to style in modern full brown morocco. Spine ruled and lettered in gilt. Top edge dyed black, others speckled red. Newer endpapers. Dentelles stamped in blind. Some foxing throughout. Leaf T2 with a repaired two-inch closed tear with no loss. Overall, a very good copy of this elusive title. "The most dramatic result of Franklin's researches was the proof that lightning is really an electrical phenomenon. Others had made such a suggestion before him- even Newton himself- but it was he who provided the experimental proof. In 1752 he flew a kite in a thunderstorm and attached a key to its string. From this he collected electric charges in a Leiden jar and showed that atmospheric and frictional or machine-made electricity are the same . Experiments and Observations remains the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America" (PMM). "Franklin's most important scientific publication. The first part contained Franklin's first reports on the novel electrical experiments with the Leyden jar performed by himself and three other researchers during the later half of the 1740s. These experiments led to Franklin's successful analysis of the electrical properties of the Leyden jar , and the enunciation of his 'single fluid' theory of electricity, a full statement of which appears at the end of this part. The single fluid theory, although flawed in its inability to explain the mutual repulsion of negatively charged bodies, has several important assets, the most valuable being its explanation of induced charges. It was Franklin's clear understanding of this process that caused his theory to be so widely adopted by his contemporaries, and it has its practical laboratory uses even today" (Norman). The second part included Franklin's account of the famous kite experiment establishing lightning as an electrical phenomenon. The third part of the work developed Franklin's explanation of induced charges. "America's first great scientific contribution" (Howes). ESTC N23554. Howes F-324. Norman Library 830. Sabin 25559. Wheeler Gift 367a. PMM 199 (Regarding 1st edition). HBS 69164. $25,000.…
Seller Inventory # 69164
Bibliographic details
- Title
- New Experiments and Observations Made on Electricity: Made at Philadelphia in America. Communicated in Several Letters to P. Collinson, Esq. of London. F.R.S.
- Author
- FRANKLIN, Benjamin
- Publisher
- Printed and sold by D. Henry and R. Cave, London
- Publication year
- 1754
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Edition
- First Edition.
- Seller catalogs
- PMM, Science and Technology
Heritage Book Shop, ABAA
Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 15.03 | £ 30.05 |
Payment methods
Store description
Heritage Book Shop, founded in 1963 by Louis and Benjamin Weinstein, is an internationally renowned antiquarian book shop specializing in fine copies of rare books and first editions. Member ABAA / ILAB.
Specialty
Exploration, Voyages, Travel, Science, PMM, Illustrated books, Modern firsts and fine press, Illustrated and color plate books, Nineteenth-century literature, Early printed books in all fields, Fine leather-bound sets, Finely bound booksAssociation member
Seller's business information
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
324 South Beverly Drive, # 1421
Beverly Hills, CA U.S.A. 90212
Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. All items are guaranteed as
described. We are willing to hold items for seven days. Any returns must be well packaged and sent in a traceable manner. Additional insurance is not required for a return shipment. We accept Visa, MasterCard as processed by AbeBooks, American Express, checks (in U.S. currency) and wire transfers. California residents please add appropriate sales tax. Payment in advance is required for first time clients. We can offer deferred billing to institutions. Shipping is not included in the book price. Minimum domestic ground shipping is $5.00, with larger orders at cost. International air and surface shipments at cost. Title to all material remains with Heritage Book Shop, Inc. until receipt of payment in full.
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
9024 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
phone-310-659-3674
fax-310-659-4872
heritage@heritagebookshop.com
CA resale #- SR AS 101043172
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A., +1 310-659-3674, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.