Today is Ben Franklin’s birthday, January 17, 1706. I would like to display a few Ben Franklin books that were all printed by Peter Pauper Press. While I might have a tough time picking out my favorite book from the library, my favorite collection by far, is the cabinet of Peter Pauper Press books. A small-press printer, Peter Beilenson, published wonderful books from 1928 to 1962, when he passed away. They are beautiful books to look at, along with wonderful topics. The company still prints new books to this day. Most of his earlier books were slipcased, and printed under 1000 copies. In the 1950’s, he started making smaller books, again on all sorts of various topics.
One day in early 1980’s, when shopping used bookstores with my mom, I met a gentleman who was also collecting Peter Pauper Press books. He was very engaging, and answered every question I had but one. It was where he got his bibliography of PPP books. He just hinted that Peter Beilenson was a Typophile, and a well respected one. I did my research, and found out the Typophiles published books, papers, and promoted small print books. When Beilenson died, the Typophiles published a book “recalling Peter: The Life and Times of Peter Beilenson and his Peter Pauper Press”. The Typophiles, 1964 (top center book). It is a great book about his history, and a list of what he was involved with. I found it, and later that year, I again saw that other collector at a book convention, and we discussed the book. He was very pleased with my having found the book, and invited me to shop his bookstore in Madison, Wi to look for more books. More on that adventure, also with my mom, at a later date. Now lets list a few Ben Franklin books by Peter Pauper Press.
Benjamin Franklin was a colorful person, along with being a printer. He was a statesman and one of the writers of the Declaration of Independence. Everyone also knows him for getting zapped when flying a kite in the rainstorm. He had a variety of printed works. I have already discussed in earlier story about his book on passing gas (also printed by Peter Beilenson!). First is “Ben Franklin’s Wit and Wisdom”, 1956. This is a small book on some of Franklin’s best sayings: ”Fish and Visitors stink after three days”; “Be slow in ‘chusing’ a friend,slower in changing”; “what you seem to be, be really”; “Wish not so much to live long, as to live well.”
“Poor Richard’s Almanack” published 1936. There are 117 pages of even more sayings by Ben Franklin. ”Ben Franklin on Marriage”, 1929. The introduction, by the publishers says “…this is the third publication of this press, and will (it may not displease our Friends to be inform’d) be anything but the last.” ”Satires & Hoaxes of Benjamin Franklin” 1935. This book has wonderful stories of Franklin’s time as a statesman. ”Dr Benj. Franklin and the Ladies: Being various Letters, Essays, Bagetelles & Satires to & about the Fair Sex.” 1939. These are even more stories and letters that Ben Franklin wrote.
I love Peter Pauper Press books. The outsides are made well (the printing, the binding), and the insides are equally enjoying. There are famous authors, as well as in-house editors. There are also marvelous illustrators, as well. I’ll leave with one last Franklin quote “The Learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better Language than the unlearned; but still ’tis Nonsense.” Keep reading.
Librarytomes 