FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document signed ("B. Franklin") as President of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 20 January 1786. - photo 1
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document signed ("B. Franklin") as President of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 20 January 1786. - photo 2
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document signed ("B. Franklin") as President of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 20 January 1786. - photo 3

FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document signed ("B. Franklin") as President of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 20 January 1786.

Lot 481
19.01.2024 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 7 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1122216
Lot 481 | FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document signed ("B. Franklin") as President of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 20 January 1786.
Estimate value
$ 7 000 – 10 000
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document signed ("B. Franklin") as President of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 20 January 1786.



One page, 240 x 375mm (visible) with purple silk ribbon and wafer seal attached to center (some spots of offsetting from seal).



Benjamin Franklin signs a membership certificate for James Pearson of Philadelphia as a member of the American Philosophical Soceity. Pearson (1735-1813) was master builder in Philadelphia and an early member of the Carpenter's Company. For the American Philosophical Society, Person constructed the observatory in the State House yard in Philadelphia to observe the transit of Venus on 3 June 1769. Although the present membership certificate suggests that he was not a member, this document may have been produced to replace an earlier example that that was damaged or lost (or perhaps never existed beforehand as we have yet to encounter a membership certificate for the Society dating before 1786). Benjamin Franklin established the society in 1743 as the Philosophical Society, and when it merged with the American Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge in 1769 it became known as the American Philosophical Society Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Following independence, it would be shortened to the name that rings familiar today. (See Todd M. Babcock & Edwin F. S. Danson "Locating Liberty: The 1769 State House Observatory," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol 163 (Decemer 2019), pp. 339-363).





Provenance

Probably acquired by Benjamin Franklin Pepper (1879-1918), Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, great-great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin

Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Pepper, née Rebecca Thomson Willing (1882-1955), Ballygarth, Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, wife

B. Franklin Pepper (1930-2011), Alexandria, Virginia, grandson

Benjamin Franklin Pepper, Jr. and Holly (Pepper) White, children and current owners
Auction house category:Books and manuscripts
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