Federal Period
1790 First French Edition Eulogy for Benjamin Franklin in Paris at the French National Assembly
July 21, 1790-Dated, First French Edition, Original Printing of "Eloge Civique de BENJAMIN FRANKLIN," 50 pages, Choice Very Fine.
This Eulogy of Benjamin Franklin, published in Paris, July 21, 1790, is 50 pages, measures 5" x 8", with light tone to the front and back covers. Front cover reads, in part: "ELOGE CIVIQUE DE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Pronone. le 21 Juillet 1790, DANS LA ROTONDE, AU NOM DE LA COMMUNE DE PARIS, Par M. L'ABB FAUCHET - "En prsence de MM. les Dputs de l'Assemble Nationale, de MM. les Dputs de tous les Dpartemens du Royaume la Confdration, de M. le Maire, de M. le Commandant-Gnral, de MM. les Reprsentans de la Commune, de MM. les Prsidens des Districts, & de MM. les Electeurs de Paris. - "A Paris, Chez {J.-R. Lottin, Imprimeur-Libraire-Ordinaire de la Ville, rue S.-Andr-des-Arcs, no 27. G. L. Bailly, Libraire, rue S.-Honor, vis--vis de la Barrire des Sergens. Et, au Palais-Royal, Chez {Vict. Desenne, l'aine, Libraire, J. Cussac, Libraire. M, DCC, XC."



This historic eulogy of Benjamin Franklin, was delivered before the assembled deputies of the French National Assembly, the city officials of Paris, and the members of the Commune. It was published in a number of editions in 1790, the first not including the "Note de M. le Roi sur Franklin." The note of King Louis XVI on Franklin is on pages 38-50 in this edition, a First Edition thus.



Very good, untrimmed copy, tied together by string



Sabin 23918. Ford 861. Echeverria & Wilkie I: 790/43. Eberstadt 131-293
From the Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State:

Benjamin Franklin, the most distinguished scientific and literary American of the colonial era, was the first American diplomat. Franklin served from 1776 to 1778 on a commission to France charged with the critical task of gaining French support for American independence.



French aristocrats and intellectuals embraced Franklin as the personification of the New World Enlightenment. His likeness appeared on medallions, rings, watches, and snuffboxes, and fashionable ladies adopted the "coiffure a la Franklin" in imitation of the fur cap he wore instead of a wig. His popularity and diplomatic skill"along with the first American battlefield success at Saratoga"convinced France to recognize American independence and conclude an alliance with the thirteen states in 1778.



Franklin presented his credentials to the French court in 1779, becoming the first American Minister (the eighteenth century American equivalent of Ambassador) to be received by a foreign government. Franklin's home in Passy, just outside Paris, became the center of American diplomacy in Europe. When Thomas Jefferson succeeded Franklin in 1785, French Foreign Minister Vergennes asked: "It is you who replace Dr. Franklin?" Jefferson replied, "No one can replace him, Sir; I am only his successor."