The Way to Wealth, or Poor Richard Improved; La science du Bonhomme, Richard, Ou Moyen Facile de Payer Les Impôts.

Renouard's scarce bi-lingual edition of Franklin’s popular collection of aphorisms. Octavo, bound in contemporary wrappers, frontispiece portrait of Franklin engraved by Alexandre Tardieu after Duplessis' painting. The Way to Wealth was first published as the preface to Poor Richard's Almanack of 1758 (the last of the almanacs written by Franklin himself) under the title "Father Abraham's Speech." Revered for the elegance of its printing, this bi-lingual edition also includes Franklin’s private letter to Madame Passy, along with "Dialogue entre la goutte et Franklin,” the poem "Le Sage et la goutte," and the essays "Quelques mots sur l'Amérique, avis à ceux qui voudroient aller s'établir dans cette contrée” and the separately paginated "Observations sur les Sauvages du Nord de l'Amérique" which is noted by Ford to be present in only a few copies. (Sabin, 25596; Ford, 107). In near fine condition. Exceptionally clean internally. Housed in a custom chemise slipcase within a half morocco clamshell box. A beautiful example, rare in wrappers.