Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Imprint Charters of the Province of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia and Collection of all the Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: Benjamin Franklin, 1742, 4to., in full brown calf, the boards laid with the original sheep with rolled decoration and fillet, attributed to bookbinder Charles Harrison (Boston, fl. 1736-1746), the spine with raised bands and gilt-lettered label, also cut and laid from the earlier binding, 11-3/4" x 7-1/2", presented in a black half leather and pebbled cloth book-form case with raised bands and gilt lettering, 12-1/4" x 9" x 2-5/8". [Miller 288; Curtis 75 & 76; Tower 670; Hildeburn 755 & 757] Provenance: The Collection of William Pfaff, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Note that upon closer inspection, it appears that the boards are original in their entirety, with the exception of the upper outside corner of the rear board; it and the spine have been professionally restored, the latter retaining the original label. The endpapers, flyleaf and interior cloth hinge have been replaced during the restoration. Surface scratches and stains on both boards; knife cuts on the front board and very minor insect damage on the rear board. All corners are bumped and with minor losses to the sheepskin, with a few small losses on the top front edge. The text is complete, corresponding exactly to the Miller collation. The title page of the "Charters" is torn and missing about 2-1/2" across the top of the page; the loss has been professionally replaced with tipped-in paper. There is a small (3/4") triangular tear in the gutter near the center stitching running from pages 257-278. A few scattered pencil and ink notations throughout, most of the latter being period gloss and annotation presumably by owner John Dunwoody, whose name appears in ink on pages 3, 45, and the final blank page. There is small cinder burn on this last page, extending through six leaves. Moderate foxing throughout. Quite a handsome copy of one of Franklin's most iconic imprints. The later slipcase has significant flaking and losses to the leather, especially at the corners and spine.