FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Partly-printed document completed in his hand and signed ("B. Franklin" and again, "Benjamin Franklin" in the body), Paris, 10 April 1782.

In French. One page, 248 x 187 mm.

The United States takes a loan from France: a document printed on Franklin's Passy press, accomplished and signed by Franklin. A promissory note, beautifully printed on fine paper with a striking marbled strip, at the celebrated press operated by Franklin at Passy, outside Paris. Accomplished by Franklin himself as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, it contains some 30 words in his hand, including a second signature. Along the top of the text Franklin has arranged a row of typographical ornaments flanked at each end by a fleur-de-lis. "I, Benjamin Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of North America, in virtue of power vested in me by the Congress of the said States, promise in its name ... to make payment and to reimburse the Royal Treasury of his Christian Majesty on the first of January 1788.... the sum of 1,500,000 silver Livres ... with interest at 5 per cent annually ..." Beneath, in his neat, formal hand, Franklin appends a three-line rider. At the top, the document is numbered "21" and the amount, 1,500,000 Livres, indicated in a space provided.

Not listed by Luther S. Livingston, Franklin and his Press at Passy (New York: Grolier Club, 1914), but the identical typographical ornaments are shown in Livingston no. 20. Extremely rare. One of four such documents, ranging in date from 15 February 1781 to 10 April 1782, sold from the collection of Perc S. Brown (sale, Parke Bernet, 19 January 1966, lots 91-94). Of the four the present, lot 93, concerned the largest sum. -- Christie's, New York, 7 December 1990. lot 198.