Petit code de la raison humaine, ou, Exposition succinte de ce que la raison dicte à tous les hommes, pour éclairer leur conduite & assurer leur bonheur / par M. B. D.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barbeu Du Bourg, M. (Jacques), 1709-1779.

Contributor:

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790, printer.

Barbeu Du Bourg, M. (Jacques), 1709-1779.

Curtis Collection of Franklin Imprints (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

French

Subjects (All):

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.

Conduct of life--Early works to 1800.

Conduct of life.

Ethics--Early works to 1800.

Ethics.

Reason--Early works to 1800.

Reason.

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790--Parodies, imitations, etc.

Franklin, Benjamin.

Genre:

Parodies, imitations, etc.

Parodies (Literature)

Penn Provenance:

Heilbrun, Georges (bookplate)

Physical Description:

xxiv, 118 pages, 2 unnumbered pages ; 13 cm (24mo)

Other Title:

Exposition succinte de ce que la raison dicte à tous les hommes, pour éclairer leur conduite & assurer leur bonheur

Fingerprint:

err; 13de usm- nœun (3) 1782 (R)

Place of Publication:

[Passy] : [Benjamin Franklin], MDCCCLXXXII [1782]

Notes:

Author "M.B.D." identified in Barbier as M. Jacques Barbeu Dubourg.

Printed by Franklin while living in Passy, on his private press using custom cast typeface. Cf. Ford.

The original version of Barbeu Du Bourg's collection of 33 moral and political maxims first appeared in December 1768 issue of "Mercure de France" under title: Code de l'humanité, ou, Loix immunables qui servent de base aux devoirs, aux droits, & au bonheur de l'homme. In 1769 it was reissued as a pamphlet under the same title. In 1774 it was enlarged and issued under title: "Petit code de la raison humaine"... (Ford 850). This 1782 edition was further expanded to contain a total of 102 maxims. Cf. Livingston, p. 67-72.

Dedication to "Monsieur B.F" who in later editions is identified as Benjamin Franklin.

Signatures: [a]⁶ b⁶ A-K⁶.

Leaves [a]1 and K8 blank.

Half-title.

Local Notes:

Curtis Collection copy imperfect: wanting first and last blank leaves.

Curtis Collection copy has small vellum bookplate on front pastedown with monogram "G H" in gold lettering, from the personal library of Georges Heilbrun, Paris bookdealer.

Curtis Collection copy in contemporary blind-ruled mottled calf with marbled endpapers; red morocco spine label in gilt.

Curtis Collection copy with ms. inscription on title page below author's initials, identifying Du Bourg as "Docteur en medicine, mort en 1779."

Curtis Collection copy bound with: Barbeu Du Bourg, M. (Jacques). Élémens de médecine, en forme d'aphorismes. A Paris : Chez P. Fr. Didot, MDCCLXXX [1780]

Cited in:

Barbier, A.A. Ouvrages anonymes, III, col. 841

Ford, P. L. Benjamin Franklin, 851

Livingston, L. Franklin at Passy, 19

Franklin imprints of Curtis Publishing, 778

Related Work:

Barbeu Du Bourg, M. (Jacques), 1709-1779. Code de l'humanité.

OCLC:

42834689