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

[bound after:] LUNDSTRÖM, Johan. Söderfors ankar-bruks historia.
Uppsala, J. Edmans enka, [1791]. £ 1150
Two works in one volume, 4to, pp. 21, [3] blank; 47, [5] privilege,
explanation of the plates, with one large folding engraved map and one
folding printed table (printed on recto and verso); a wide-margined
copy; engraved title vignette and typographic head and tail pieces to I;
contemporary half calf with raised bands; discreet repairs to spine; with
the early ownership signature of P. E. Bergfalk and modern bookplate of
Gunnar Brusewitz.
First editions of both works, both relating to Söderförs.
I. The rare catalogue of the zoological Museum Grillianum in Söderfors in Sweden, a
collection which included forty-five mammals, 285 species of birds, and 576
conchiliae. The museum was kept by Adolph Ulric Grill (1752-1797), whose father
had purchased the dilapidated Söderfors iron works in 1748, and had with extensive
investment had turned them around, to become the biggest Swedish exporter of iron,
copper, lumber and naval stores. Grill's collection reflected the scholarly inclinations
of the period, in which wealthy amateurs were fascinated by the achievements of
Linnaeus and others. His father had corresponded with Linnaeus and donated a
collection of specimens to Uppsala University. Adolph Ulric, however, was wealthy
enough to send agents to far-away countries such as Greenland and China to bring
back specimens of the local fauna for his collections. His collection included the last
specimen of the extinct Kapska blåbocken, provided for him by the naturalist
Thunberg. The Grilli Museum was donated to the Stockholm Museum for Natural
History, where some of his specimen are still preserved today.
A contemporary anonymous reviewer in Magazin für das Neueste aus der Physik
und der Naturgeschichte comments on the fact that zoological museums have
become increasingly unfashionable and are clearly superseded by the natural history
collection
II. First edition of this early company history, the account of the process of founding
and running the Söderfors Anchor Works, an early modern iron works. Because of its
exemplary character, this publication has been translated and published as a special
publication by the Baker Library. Lundström gives a detailed account both of the
running of the iron works, but also of its original foundation, the investments
necessary, labour organisation and accommodation, in short a blueprint of
mercantilist factory organisation.
He also includes some information on the Museum Grillianum, giving details of the
exhibition space, how for example the birds are displayed in boxes with glass fronts,
and cover one whole wall. The collection of snails and shells are displayed on tables,
lined with blue silk, and arranged according to the Linnean system. Lundström
states that since Lindroth's catalogue of 1788 numerous additions to the collections
had been made, adding 9 mammals, 106 birds, and 50 snails and shells.
From the collection of the nineteenth century Swedish economist and professor at
Uppsale university P.E. Bergfalk, with his ownership signature to front paste-down.