Susanne Schulz-Falster Catalogue Ten - Schulz-Falster Rare Books

Original oVprint of an analysis of the reasons for the diminished population
and deplorable state of Bavarian trade and commerce at the beginning of
the nineteenth century, Wrst published in Zach’s Monatlicher Corrspondenz.
Weishaupt (1748–1830), jurist, philosopher and leading member of the
Illuminaten (together with the Rosicrucians a special branch of the German
masons), distinguishes between outside factors, such as Bavaria’s landlocked
location, and internal problems, rooted in the Bavarian mentality.
The author maintains that Bavaria is too insular and inward looking. Their
insularity leads to an exaggerated view of their own importance. Instead of
encouraging manufacturing industry, they concentrate on the growing of
grain, which might make for plenty of bakeries, and even more breweries,
but does not result in a successful economy.
Not found in NUC and RLIN, KVK lists one copy at the Bavaria State Library.
337 WENZEL, Gottfried Immanuel. Alphabet edler
Vergnügungen und Freuden; oder: Angabe und Benützung der
physischen und moralischen Vergnügungsquellen für den Menschen
in der Natur. Wien, Anton Doll, 1800. £550
8vo, pp. 167 including engraved frontispiece, [1] advertisement; uncut
in contemporary vellum-backed paste-paper boards; spine label lettered
in manuscript; extremities a little rubbed, corners bumped; small
circular stamps erased from title page, barely noticeable; still a good
copy.
First edition, uncommon, of Wenzel’s advice on how to Wnd physical and
moral pleasure and amusement in nature, arranged in the form of brief articles
in alphabetical order. His wide-ranging articles, covering subjects as
diverse as fashion, walking, spring, acting, thunderstorms, women, drink,
behaviour and nature, give a clear picture of eighteenth-century social morality.
Other suggested diversions include hobbies, such as carpentry or
amateur dramatics, and also games such as card games and a variety of children’s
games. Wenzel makes some pertinent observations on the relationship
between the sexes, on education and on married life.
Wenzel (1754–1809) was a proliWc and popular writer, who was clearly
inXuenced by enlightenment ideas.
Wurzbach LV, pp. 13V.; uncommon, KVK lists two copies only; not found in
RLIN or OCLC.
Animal Language
338 WENZEL, Gottfried Immanuel. Neue auf Vernunft und
Erfahrung gegründete Entdeckungen über die Sprache der Thiere.
Wien, Anton Doll, 1800. £480
8vo, pp. 216, including engraved frontispiece; contemporary boards,
spine lettered in manuscript; corners bumped, foot of spine chipped;
private ownership inscription to front paste-down.
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue ten
First edition of Wenzel’s examination of the language and speech of animals,
and one of the earliest contributions to the study of animal psychology.
Wenzel’s treatise is based on close observations. He maintains that
animals can clearly communicate with one another and also with human
beings. He attempts to transcribe diVerent sounds made by animals and
translate them into human language, with reference to the emotions expressed.
He also includes separate sections on body language (Thierischpathognomisch
mimisches Alphabet) and a dictionary of animal language
(Versuch eines Wörterbuchs der Thiersprache).
Engelmann, p. 312.