Sell or Auction Your Benjamin Franklin Experiments Observations Electricity 1751 1st Edition for up to $40,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Benjamin Franklin Experiments Observations Electricity 1751 1st edition that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Sell Your Benjamin Franklin Experiments Observations Electricity 1751 1st Edition
Aside from serving as President of Pennsylvania and signing the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin was also a writer who made contributions to science. Franklin conducted his own experiments on electricity and learned that lightning and electricity were the same thing. A collection of Franklin’s letters regarding his discoveries on electricity were compiled into the 1751 book Experiments and Observations on Electricity. He was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society for his findings described in the book.
Below is a recent realized price for a copy of Benjamin Franklin Experiments Observations Electricity 1751 1st edition. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions an obtain up to this amount or more for you:
Benjamin Franklin Experiments Observations Electricity 1751 1st Edition. Sold for $40,000.
Here’s an example of the Title page of 1751 original publication:

We sold the following book that was published by Benjamin Franklin for $5,775:
From the Printing Press of Benjamin Franklin, “Letters between Theophilus and Eugenio, on the Moral Pravity of Man, and the Means of his Restoration” — One of Only 16 Titles Published by Franklin
One of only 16 books printed by Benjamin Franklin, “Letters between Theophilus and Eugenio, on the Moral Pravity of Man, and the Means of his Restoration”. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B.[enjamin] Franklin, 1747. The first and only edition. Authorship of this volume of letters was once erroneously attributed to Franklin by Sabin, although it’s now believed to be by Sir Richard Blackmore. Book runs 64pp. in original wrappers, bound in full morocco black pebbled leather measuring 6.25″ x 7.75″ with git titling on spine. Previous owner’s name of “Andrew Reed” written to bottom of title page and page 20, possibly the wealthy 18th century Philadelphia merchant. Closed tear and water stain to title page, both lessening over the subsequent 2-3 leaves. Very good condition. Sold for $5,775.

The following is some similar items we have sold:
Gutenberg Bible Leaf 193 Chronicles of Old Testament
Scarce leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, one of the earliest major books printed from moveable metal type, the invention that ushered in the Age of Enlightenment by democratizing knowledge through mass production of literature. Printed by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany from 1450-1455, less than 50 complete or near-complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible are now extant, with nearly all those housed in public institutions. Singular leaves are also scarce, with the leaf presented here having been acquired by bookseller Gabriel Wells, whose purchase of an incomplete Bible in 1920 gave way to selling the individual leaves alongside an essay by A. Edward Newton entitled “A Noble Fragment”. Leaf is number 193 of the full Latin Bible, with the recto being the Prologue to 1 Chronicles of the Old Testament, and the verso the first part of Chapter 1 of 1 Chronicles. Each page features two columns of 42 lines in dark black Gothic type, accented by red and blue rubrication. Each copy of the Gutenberg Bible differs in its rubrication and illumination, with buyers at the time deciding upon these embellishments after the Bible was printed. The six-line rubricated letters of this leaf were likely added later, restored to match the original style. Leaf measures 11.125″ x 15.375″, bound on edge to portfolio measuring 11.75″ x 16″. Paper quality is still bright with very little foxing or discoloration compared to other examples. A stunning example from the book that changed the course of history. Sold for $136,500.
Charles Darwin On the Origin of Species 1st Edition
First edition, first printing of “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, one of the most important books in the scientific canon. London: John Murray, 1859. In this revolutionary book that upended man’s own view of himself, Darwin posits natural selection as the engine driving species’ evolution, an argument so persuasive that even 19th century religious leaders adjusted their teachings to allow for evolution to work in concert with divine planning. Its importance has only grown in the 150+ years since publication, with Freeman concluding it to be “the most important biological book ever written”. First released on 24 November 1859, its scarcity nearly matches its importance, with the first printing consisting of only 1,250 copies, and the number of extant copies now significantly fewer.
All first printing points are present, including original binding, variant B, title page with copyright information on verso, Table of Contents (pages v-ix) with binder instructions to verso, complete pages 1-502, and folding table present between pages 116-117. Bound in publisher’s full green boards, stamped and lettered in gilt. Overall in very good condition; ads at back of volume have been removed as has half-title page, and endpapers have been replaced. Volume is rebacked using morocco, with original spine laid down. Some shelf wear to boards. Light foxing throughout book, with some chipping, small closed tears with repairs to a few pages, and a few dogeared pages. One small mark on page 109, otherwise no internal writing or marks. Housed in a custom quarter-leather clamshell box. Overall in very good condition, a handsome, presentable copy of this scarce first printing. Sold for $68,250.
Benjamin Franklin 1785 Document Signed as President of Pennsylvania — Excellent, Bold Signature
Benjamin Franklin signs an interest certificate, dated 19 October 1785, one day after being elected President of Pennsylvania. Until May of that year he had served the new American nation as ambassador to France. Now, in a position similar to a modern day governor, Franklin authorizes Pennsylvania Treasurer David Rittenhouse to pay ”to Gilbert Quirk late private of Musquetry of the Pennsylvania Line, or his order, the sum of two pounds eight shillings being one year’s interest on his depreciation certificate, due the tenth day of April 1782 agreeably to an act of The General Assembly, intitled, ‘An act to appropriate certain monies arising from the excise, for the payment of the annual interest due on unalienated certificates therein mentioned,’ passed the twenty-first day of March 1783, and out of the fund appropriated by the said act, for the purposes therein mentioned.” He signs boldly, ”B. Franklin Presid.” with a paraph accentuating his name. The certificate, issued in Philadelphia, is endorsed on the verso: ”Received the within contents in full / For George Bickham / Sam Fulton”. Minor toning and foxing to 7.75” x 6.25” document, with tape repair to verso. Overall near fine condition. Sold for $15,436.
First Edition, First Printing of Charles Darwin’s 1871 Masterpiece, “The Descent of Man” — First Printing of the Controversial Word “Evolution”
First edition, first printing of “The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex” by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray: 1871. In two volumes with illustrations, “The Descent of Man” applies Darwin’s theory first conceived in “Origin of Species” to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection. Volume I of this set is the very first time in which the word evolution appears in print in any of Darwin’s works. All first issue points present including the errata on the verso of the title leaf of Volume II; seventeen errata for Volume I and eight for Volume II; the verso of the half title leaf of Volume II bears the printer’s note; present with note on a tipped-in leaf in Volume II, which refers to “a serious and unfortunate error” affecting pages 297-299 in Volume I, and pages 161 and 237 in Volume II; page 297 begins with the word “transmitted.” Publisher’s full green pictorial cloth, stamped and lettered in gilt. Covers have been re-backed with vintage cloth. Some fading to the cloth on the covers around edges. The binding in both volumes is very tight and secure with no loose pages or sections. Internally very good. The endpapers have been replaced with paper in keeping with the original dark navy ones. Signature by previous owner on the half-title of Volume I and the title page of Volume I. Overall a beautiful set in very good condition. Sold for $5,073.

Darwin’s “First Words”
London: Baldwin & Cradock, 1827-35 and Henry Bohn 1846. 2,202pp., 7 volumes of 11. Bound in six volumes, (the first and second volumes bound as one). Contains Mandibulata portion of work only, plus one supplementary volume (lacks four volumes of Haustellata). Contains 47 hand-colored engraved plates, bound from arts in quarter morocco, gilt rules, lettering to spines. Plain-paper sides, marbled endpapers. Bindings worn, rubbed, scuffed at head, tail of spines. Two volumes lacking .5″ piece at spine’s head. Volume VI split at head, tail of hinges. Covers detached on Volume I. Endpapers, title pages foxed, small embossed library stamp to top corner of title pages. Toning to pages, occasional light pencil note, tick to margins. Bindings tight. Good. Sold for $2,040.
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Benjamin Franklin Experiments Observations Electricity 1751 1st edition that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).





