«Merge Record #»«Title» - Schulz-Falster Rare Books

Four parts bound in two volumes, 8vo, engraved title, pp. [viii], 168 with
four hand-coloured silhouettes; [xvi], [169]-264, 267-384, [4] blank, with
five hand-coloured silhouettes; [x], 201 with six hand-coloured
silhouettes and one black and white silhouette ; [30], [203]-356 with four
hand-coloured silhouettes; contemporary half calf over paste-paper
covered boards, spine gilt in compartments, two gilt-lettered lettering
and numbering pieces; foot of spine chipped, with small portion missing
from spine covering of volume I; a fine set from the Königl. Sächsischen
Schullehrer Seminar Borna, with stamp to both titles, and an early
ownership inscription from a woman reader.
First edition, rare found complete, of this charming gallery of German women,
giving biographical, literary and social information illustrated with hand-coloured
silhouettes. Included are ladies of political importance such as Catherine the Great,
Elisabeth Christina of Russia, Sophie Charlotte, wife of George III, and Marie
Antoinette, but also writers, such as Philippine Engelhard, née Gatterer, and the
actress and writer Sophie Albrecht, Sophie von La Roche. The final section is taken
up by aristocratic and middle class ladies who presumably paid for the privilege of
being included. The articles give extensive biographical information on the public
figures, more personal details on the less well known ones. In all a charming set,
documenting women in the late eighteenth century. The extensive subscribers' list
indicates that the volume was popular.
The finely engraved silhouettes within an oval decorated frame are particularly
appealing, and very unusual in their detailed hand-colouring. The initial decorated
frames are left empty, for the inclusion of the silhouette of the purchaser.
The work is bibliographically complicated, as it often gets confused with another
publication entitled Schattenrisse edler teutscher Frauenzimmer; oder offenherzige
und unpartheyische Nachrichten von jetzt-lebenden, berühmten, schönen und
biedern Damen, also published in 1784, 85 but concentrating exclusively on ladies
from Upper and Lower Saxony.
Jahrbuch der Sammlung Kippenberg, vol I, 1921, no. 29; see Hayn-Gotendorf VII, 126
(rar)(volume I) and Hayn-Gotendorf II, p. 492; very rare, OCLC lists just one copy at
Goettingen.
Speech at the Royal Society
34.
GONZAGA DI CASTIGLIONE, Luigi. L'Homme de Lettres, bon
Citoyen, Discours philosophique & politique de son Altesse
Monseigneur le Prince Louis Gonzaga de Castiglione: prononce à
l'Académie des Arcades, à Rome l'année 1776. Traduit de l'Italien.
Geneva, 1777. £ 450