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FO-Epitaph, 1728

27 reprints from 1728-01-01 to 1899-01-28

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1728-01-01

t he wrote the Epitaph in 1728 seems the most acceptable.
Whether the concept of the Epitaph, comparing a printer’s body to an old book, was original with Franklin has also been the subject of discussion and inquiry. He has been charged with plagiarizing a Latin epitaph on Jacob Tonson that was printed in the Gentleman’s Magazine in 1736. This charge is without foundation, of course, if Franklin composed his Epitaph in 1728. But he could have seen other applications of the simile, not uncommon in his day, such as Benjamin Woodbridge’s epitaph on John Cotton, printed in Mather’s Magnalia Christi Americana (1702).

The Body ofB. Franklin,Printer;Like the Cover of an old Book,Its Contents torn out,And stript of its Lettering and Gilding,Lies here, Food for Worms.But the Work shall not be wholly lost:For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more,In a new & more perfect Edition,Corrected and amendedBy the Author.He was born Jan. 6. 1706.Died 17


1805-10-20 · Baltimore

f From the same collection of Misceilaneous Pieces, p. 531. ]

THE BODY
of
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Printer,
(Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,

6 And stript of 1ts lettering and gilding)

7

Lies here, food for worms.
Yet the work itselfshall not be lost ;
For it will (as he believ’d) appear once more
In a new
And more beautiful Edition,
Corrected and Amended
By
The Author

Page image

1822-08-29 · New Haven [Conn.]

Dr. Franklin's Epitaph on himself, curius for
conveying such solemn ideas in lhe style of his
occupation.

The Body of Benjamin Franklin, Priuter.
Like the covering of an old Book,
Its contents torn out
And stript of its lettering and gilding,
Lies here, food for worms ;
But the work shal! not be lost

Page image

Benjamin Franklin

From The national advocate.

1824-02-07 · New-York [N.Y.]

[This text is not available under an open license.]


From New-York daily tribune.

1844-01-25 · New-York [N.Y.]

Epitaph written in 1726.
The Body of
B. Franklin, Printer,
(Like the cover of an old Book,
Its contents torn out
And stript of its Lettering and Gilding)
Lies here, Food for Worms.
But the Work shall not be lost;
For it will fas he believ'd) appear once more,
In a new and more elegant Edition,
Revised and corrected
By the Author


The Great Apprentice

From Boston daily advertiser.

1856-09-17 · Boston, Mass.

[This text is not available under an open license.]


From The Ottawa free trader.

1870-12-17 · Ottawa, Ill.

"The BodY oF
BENJAMIN FRAnKLin,
IriNTeR,
(like the cover of an old book.
its contents torn out,
and stript of its lettering and gilding),
lies here, food for worms;
but the work shall not be lost,
for it will (as he belleves) appear once more,
in a new and more elegant edition,
revised and corrected
by
ThE AUTHOR.


1871-03-02 · Canton, Ohio

written by himself: 'The body of Benja­
min Fbanklis, printer, (like the cover
of an old book, its contents torn out, and
stript of its lettering and gilding) lies here,
food for worms. But the work itself shall
not be lost, but will, as he believed, appea

Page image

1875-11-09 · Augusta, Me.

“The Body
of
Benjamin Franklin
Printer
(Like the cover an old book
Its contents torn out
And stript ot its lettering and gildiug)
Pit - here food for worms.
But the work shall not be lost
For it will (as he believed) appear once mote
In a new and more elegant edition
Jifviicdand corrected
by
The Author.

Page image

From Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904)

date of death—"The body of Benjamin
Franklin, piinter— like the cover of an
old book, its con* tents torn out, and
stript of its lettering and gilding—lieB
here, food for worms. Yet the work
itself shall not be lost; for it wil


Graveyard Jocosity

From St. Louis globe-Democrat.

1881-10-31 · St. Louis [Mo.]

[This text is not available under an open license.]


1881-11-05 · Washington, D.C.

The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer, like the
cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped
of its lettering and gilding, lies here, food for worms ;
but the work shall not be wholly lost, for it will, as he
believed, appear onoe more in a new and more perfect
edition, corrected and amended by the author. He wag
bom January 6, 1706; died , 17

Page image

The Indv at Benjamin Franklin. rinten

like the cover of an old book, its contents torn
out and stripped of its lettering and gilding,
lies here, food for worms; but the work shall
not be whoUy lost for it will, as he believed,
appear once more in a new and more perfect
edition, corrected and amended by the author.
He was born January 6V 1706; died , 17

Page image

1882-01-21 · Oakland, Md.

The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer,
like the cover of an old book, Its contents torn
out and stripped of its lettering and gilding,
lies here, food for worms; but the work shall
ndtbe Wholly lost—for it will, as he believed,
appear once more in a new- and more perfect
edition, corrected and amended by the author.
He was born Jauuary ti, 1700; died —, 17—

Page image

1882-01-28 · Grenada, Miss.

The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer,
like the cover of an old book, its contents torn
out and stripped of its lettering and gilding.
lies here, food for worms; but the work shall
not be wholly lost—for it will, as he believed,
appear once more in a new and more perfect
edition, corrected and amended'by the author.
H « was born January 0, 1700; died -, 17~

Page image

From Northern Argus (Clare, SA : 1869 - 1954)

class of inscription: — ^'The body of
Benjamin Franklin, printer, like the
cover of an old book, its contents torn
out and stripped of its lettering and
gilding:. lies here, food for worms ;
but the work shall not be wholly lost —
for it will, as he believed, appear once
more in a new and more perfect edition,
corrected and amended by the author. He
was born January 6, 1706; died ? , 17—.


1882-12-28 · Boston, Massachusetts

“THE Bopy
OF
BENJAMIN FRANELIN,
Printer,
(Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,
And stript of its lettering and gilding),
Lies here, food for worms.
But the work itself shall not be lost,

For it will, as he believed, appear once more,
In a new and more elegant edition,
Revised and corrected
by
The Author.

Page image

The body of B. Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old book, its
contents torn out, and stripped of its lettering and gilding, lies here, food
for worms. But the work shall not be wholly lost, for it will, as he be-
lieved, appear once more in a new and more perfect edition, corrected
and amended by the Author. He was born January 17, 1706. Died

Page image

TYPOGRAPHICAL EPITAPHS.

From Newcastle Courant

[This text is not available under an open license.]


1884-04-03 · Woodbury, N.J.

gives the following
on a noted printer and book-seller named
Jacob Tonson, who died in 1735:
The volume of bis life beine finished, here
is the end of Jacob Tonson. Weep, authors,
and break your pens; your Tonson. e!Faced
from the book, is no more; but print the last
inscription on this la-.t page of dea h, tor
Tear that, delivered from the press of the
Save, he, tde editor, should want a title.
ere lies a book-seller, the leaf of his life
being finished, awaiting a new edition aug
mented and corrected.
.The celebrated Doctor Eenjamin Frank­
lin imitated the above, and designed it
for himself:
The body of B. Franklin, printer, like the
cover of an old book, its ton tents torn cut,
and stripped of its lettering: and gilding, lies
here, food for worms. But tbe work shall
not be wholly lost, for it will, as he beli?ved.
appear once more in a new and more perfect
edition, corrected and amended by the
author. He was born January 17. 1706.
Died,-, 17—. B. F

Page image

The Body
of
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
Printer,
(Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out
And stript of its lettering and gilding,)
Lies bere, food for worms,
But the work shall not be lost,
For it will (as he believed) appear once more
In a new and more elegant edition,
Revised and corrected
by
THE AUTHOR

Page image

FRANKLIN'S WORKS.

From The Literary World; a Monthly Review of Current Literature (1870-1904)

1888-12-08 · Boston

[This text is not available under an open license.]


1893-01-28

The Body
of
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
Printer,
Like the cover of an old book
Its contents torn out
And stript of its lettering and gildin
Lies here, food for worms.
But the work shall not be lost
For it will, as he believes, appear once more
In a new and more elegant edition
revised and corrected
by
THE AUTHOR

Page image

1893-04-01 · Chicago, Illinois

‘The Body of B. Franklin, Printer, like the cover of an old book, its
contents torn out, and stripped of its lettering and gilding, lies here, food
for worms. But the work shall not be wholly lost, for it will, as he
believed, appear once more, in a new and more perfect edition, corrected

and amended by the Author. He was born Jany. 6th, 1706, Died ——."’

Page image

1893-05-04 · Chicago

‘* The Body
of
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Printer
(Like the cover of an old book
Its contents torn out
And stript of its lettering and gilding)
Lies here food for worms.
But the work shall not be lost
For it will [as he believed] appear once more
In a new and more elegant edition
Revised and corrected
by
The Author.

Page image

1894-06-16 · Westminster, Md.

following well-known epitaph of Dr. Ben­
jamin Franklin, written by himself, will
bear repetition here lor its humor and
quaintness :
The Body of
Benjamin Franklin,
Printer,
(Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,
And stript of its lettering and guilding)
Lies here, food for worms;
But the work shall not be lost,
For it will (as he believes) appear once more
In a new and elegant edition.
Revised and corrected by
The Author

Page image

1899-01-28 · Toronto, Canada

‘The Body
of
Benjamin Franklin, Printer.
(Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,
And stript of its lettering and gilding),
Lies here, food for worms.

Yet the work itself shall not be lost,
For it will (as he believ'd) appear once
more,

In a new
And more beautiful Edition,
Corrected and Amended
By
The Author.

Page image