Benjamin Franklin - Experiences et observations sur l'électricité. Faites a Philadelphie en Amérique par M. Benjamin - 1756

When electrified clouds pass over a region, the summits of mountains and trees, tall towers, pyramids, the masts of ships, chimneys, etc., like many points, attract lightning, and the entire cloud discharges.

The work summarizes Benjamin Franklin's experiments with charged clouds, lightning, lightning rods, and the kite. Based on his observations, Franklin deduced the positive and negative nature of electric charge. Dibner, 57

Franklin was clearly influenced by contemporary scientists such as Newton and Addison. From 1747 onwards, he mainly dedicated himself to the study of electrical phenomena and published his most notable scientific work, 'Experiments and Observations on Electricity.' In 1752, he carried out his famous experiment with the kite in France. He tied a metal-frame kite to a silk thread, with a metal key at its end. Flying it during a stormy day, he confirmed that the key was charged with electricity, thus demonstrating that clouds are charged with electricity and that lightning is an electrical discharge. Thanks to this experiment, he created his most famous invention, the lightning rod, in 1753, although only in the United States, as in Europe it was invented by the Czech Prokop.

Rare second edition, highly sought after by bibliophiles, of 'Experiments and Observations on Electricity Conducted in Philadelphia, America' by Benjamin Franklin, scientist, inventor, and politician, considered one of the founding fathers of the United States and the inventor of the lightning rod. Copy printed in Paris in 1756, during the author's lifetime.

The title may give the impression that the book is solely an exploration of Franklin's work with electricity. However, it covers a variety of topics, including mathematics, natural phenomena (such as theories about the source of the aurora borealis, hurricanes, and shooting stars), economics, population growth, and the 1752 smallpox outbreak in Boston. There is only one copy in Spanish libraries according to the CCPB (Collective Catalog of Bibliographic Heritage), held at the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona with the signature B-RACA, 27-6-11. First volume (of 2), illustrated with a fold-out engraving depicting various experiments described by Franklin (complete). Bound in full contemporary leather with labels and gold tooling on the spine. Strong and solid. Edges in red. Original text in French. 16.5 x 10.5 cm, 240 grams. 349 pages, [1 page].

Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790), Experiments and Observations on Electricity. Made in Philadelphia, America by Mr. Benjamin Franklin & communicated in several letters to Mr. P. Collinson, of the Royal Society of London. Second revised, corrected, and augmented edition. In Paris: at Durand, 1756.




Ref. library: C953901110875