Before He Became a Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin Established the Lending Library. Now His Possessions Are Showcased There Before Proceeding to Auction
In 1731, bibliophile Franklin established the Library Company of Philadelphia, where this week guests can view a compilation of his documents valued between $3 million and $4.5 million
The collection features writings concerning Franklin’s electrical experiments.
Sotheby’s
A receipt from a book sale, talks of tax arrangements and a mortgage log might not seem significant enough for exhibition by themselves. Yet, when you add records of the early electricity experiments that led to the invention of the lightning rod—and did we mention that everything was either written or owned by Benjamin Franklin?
Numerous papers belonging to Franklin are showcased at the Library Company of Philadelphia this week, shining a light on a selection from a collection of over 150 items that will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in June. Franklin established the library in 1731, marking it as the first successful lending library in the U.S.
“You can’t envision Franklin without envisioning Philadelphia and vice versa,” states Selby Kiffer, Sotheby’s expert for books and manuscripts, in discussion with Philly Voice’s Michaela Althouse. “I believe that’s where he is truly valued. This material, much of which originated in Philadelphia, is now making its return. It serves as a means to honor Franklin and Philadelphia during the 250th anniversary of the nation’s inception.”
Notable pieces are on view at the Library Company of Philadelphia, which Franklin established in 1731. Ben Franske via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 3.0
Franklin is primarily recognized as a founding father, yet he was also a businessman, scientist and innovator. A profound respect for literature is a recurring theme in his numerous achievements, including his contributions to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
His father, Josiah, “had a passion for books that he instilled in his youngest son,” noted Linda Killian in the Washington Post back in 2018. And “even though Benjamin was compelled by his father to leave school at 10, he became an avid reader and self-learner.”
Alongside his endeavors in printing and publishing, Franklin’s literary journey led him to create the Library Company of Philadelphia with 50 founding shareholders, each contributing 40 shillings to the initiative and committing to deposit ten shillings annually. Per the institution’s history, the library company “prospered due to its purchasing policy, which was attuned to the requirements of its intellectually engaged, economically aspiring, yet non-elite members.” Other cities emulated the model.
In his autobiography, Franklin attributed the concept to the promotion of education and the dissemination of democratic principles, asserting that “these libraries have enhanced the general discourse of Americans, making common tradespeople and farmers as knowledgeable as most gentlemen from other nations, and perhaps have contributed in some measure to the collective stance taken across the colonies in defense of their rights.”
Franklin relocated to Philadelphia as a young man. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The assortment of Franklin’s documents being displayed at the library this week belongs to Jay Snider, former president of the Philadelphia Flyers. Although he has amassed items from various eras of American history and auctioned them in the past, he has preserved his collection of Franklin’s letters, books, and manuscripts until now.
“That truly turned into my greatest passion in this,” he confides to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Earl Hopkins.
This marks the first occasion this collection has been publicly exhibited in Philadelphia. It comprises one of the earliest letters known to be sent by Franklin, pertaining to a book sale in 1738; communications to family and friends; and documents Franklin signed while serving as a public official.
Philadelphia native Snider conveys to the Philadelphia Inquirer that it was significant for him to showcase the items there prior to their auction in New York.
“It has always been my belief that far too many items end up left on shelves, or stored away. Somewhere that no one gets to see again,” he reflects. “I hope that people enjoy reconnecting with Philadelphia.”
Did you know? Distant travels
While most closely linked to Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin spent considerable time overseas. He represented Pennsylvania in England and subsequently represented the U.S. in France. He played a role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris, which concluded the American Revolutionary War.
The collection is estimated to be worth between $3 and $4.5 million. In January, Sotheby’s auctioned a letter by George Washington introducing Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, which fetched over $1 million.
With Franklin’s extensive documentation, it is not challenging to locate letters from him as a collector or at a museum. However, the scale and quality of this collection, Kiffer mentions to Philly Voice, is exceptional.
“It’s not as though collectors should lose hope in finding Franklin items, but discovering pieces of this high caliber within the realm of Franklin is extremely rare,” he states.
Selections from the “The Jay T. Snider Collection of Benjamin Franklin” are being showcased at the Library Company of Philadelphia, from May 5 through 7.