Epitaph for a Printer – The New Colophon

The Papers cites an article in the New Colophon, A Book-Collectors Miscellany published in 1950: “For an exhaustive discussion of the sources, variations, and sequels of the Epitaph, see L. H. Butterfield, “B. Franklin’s Epitaph,” New Colophon, III (1950), 9–30, where eleven variants are considered. ” This New Colophon article is beautifully available online from …

Continue reading ‘Epitaph for a Printer – The New Colophon’ »

Three-Wheeled Clock

An auction notice caught my eye, about a clock designed by Dr Franklin. Papers online has this: James Ferguson: Account of Franklin’s Three-Wheel Clock Printed in James Ferguson, Select Mechanical Exercises: Shewing how to construct different Clocks, Orreries, and Sun-Dials, on Plain and Easy Principles,…(Second edition, London, 1778), pp. 1-4. A Clock shewing the Hours, …

Continue reading ‘Three-Wheeled Clock’ »

Who is John Paradise?

I’ve been  studying the Franklin, Massachusetts library, and reading through the correspondence between Dr. Richard Price and Benjamin Franklin in the 1780s. Their discussion ranges wonderfully — through Georgiana Shipley’s woes, the miracle of compound interest, the Finances of France, nasty reports of chaos in America (discounted by Franklin),  great confusion in England (reported by …

Continue reading ‘Who is John Paradise?’ »

Library of Congress Digital Archive

The Announcement in Philly.com is a nice introduction to The Benjamin Franklin Papers collection at the Library of Congress. Nice timing on the announcement, on April 17, 2018, the 228th anniversary of Dr. Franklin’s death. Announcement on Fine Books & Collections Here is coverage by Smithsonian Magazine.