Pictorial Life of Benjamin Franklin; Embracing Anecdotes Illustrative of His Character. Embellished with Engravings.

"Pictorial Life of Benjamin Franklin: Embracing Anecdotes Illustrative of His Character. Embellished with Engravings," published in Philadelphia by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1846. This illustrated biography presents the life and character of Benjamin Franklin through anecdotes and pictorial scenes, including the famous kite experiment. An appealing nineteenth-century Americana volume for collectors of early American history, biographies, and books about the Founding Fathers.

12mo (5" x 7"). Bound in the publisher’s original brown cloth, featuring a blindstamped architectural frame and gilt vignette of Franklin and his son with a kite on the front cover. The rear cover bears a large arabesque design, while the spine has elaborate gilt decoration and a gilt title. Illustrated with seven hand-colored plates.

Condition: The binding shows edgewear, bumped and rubbed corners with small losses, and chipped and frayed spine ends with minor loss. Approximately 1.25" of spine material is missing along the rear joint. The covers are soiled, scuffed, and stained. Previous-owner notes and doodles appear on both pastedowns and the first free endpapers. The leaf containing pages 47–48 is missing. Moderate foxing occurs throughout, with dampstaining at the foot of the rear portion of the text. Despite these condition issues, the book retains its seven hand-colored plates and decorative publisher’s binding, making it an interesting collectible in American biographical and publishing history.