FRANKLIN (Benjamin). NEW EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON ELE - Lot 58

FRANKLIN (Benjamin). NEW EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON ELECTRICITY MADE AT PHILADELPHIA IN AMERICA.... and communicated in several letters to Peter Collinson. London, printed and sold by Henry and Cave, 1760. (Part I)- Idem, 1754 (Part III) In-4° of [2]-154 pages (86, 87-109, 110-154), half blond calf with corners (early English binding). In 1752, Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm and attached a key to its string. He collected electrical charges in a Leyden flask and demonstrated that atmospheric electricity and frictional or mechanical electricity are identical: "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 ... His reputation as a scientist was immediately established by the publication of the results of his researches in a series of letters addressed to Peter Collinson, a London merchant and naturalist ..." (PMM 199) Very rare volume comprising the third edition of the first 2 parts in continuous pagination (pages 1-109, the title of the second part is missing as well as the plate) and first edition for the third part (pages 110-154 with a figure). Handwritten signature to title (J.S. Franklin's) with repair not lacking. Ex-libris A. Denier. A few light stains and minor rubbing to spine.