Susanne Schulz-Falster Catalogue Fifteen

Viennese Washer Women’s Trade Secrets
91 [WASHERWOMAN.] Das Wiener Putz- und
Nähtermädchen. Zur Belehrung und zum Nutzen ihrer
Mitschwestern herausgegeben von einem Wiener Putzmacher- und
Nähtermädchen. Vienna, n.p., 1798. £980
8vo, pp. viii, 174 [misnumbered 74]; occasional light spotting, contemporary
sprinkled boards, extremities a little rubbed, and short worm
trace to upper joint (less than 10mm); a good copy.
First edition of a fascinating manual of all that is necessary for the washerwoman
and seamstress, allegedly written by a member of the profession.
In five chapters all relevant tricks and recipes for a successful career as a
washerwoman are described. In the first chapter all manner of articles of
clothing are washed, with careful recipes for soap and suitable starch. The
items of clothing and fabric range from cotton, wool and silk, to the cleaning
of gloves, feathers, and pearls. The second chapter deals with spinning
of flax and linen, cotton and wool. Stain removal of all types and from
all materials occupies the following extensive chapters – and clearly puts
modern dry cleaners to shame. A most extensive section deals with dyeing
of all materials, using natural dyes, and giving very detailed instructions on
the dyeing process. The author differentiates between colourfast dyeing,
and short term dyeing for fashion purposes, which will be removed in the
next wash.
The manual concludes with miscellaneous information on cleaning duvets,
decoration, building beds etc. The manual was clearly popular and
went through a number of further editions up to 1816.
See Hayn-Gotendorf VIII, 488 and Mayer, Bibliotheca Viennensis 8350 (both for
third edition of 1803).
Trades and Artisans Drawn from Life –
Complete with their Tools and Equipment
92 WEIGEL, Christoph. Etwas für Alle, Das ist eine kurtze
Beschreibung allerley Stands- Ambts- und Gewerbs-Personen, mit
beygedruckter Sittlichen Lehre und Biblischen Concepten. Durch
welche der Fromme mit gebührendem Lob hervor gestrichen, der
Tadelhaffte aber mit einer mässsigen Ermahnung nicht verschonet
wird; Allen und Jeden heilsam und leitsam, auch so gar nicht
ohndienlich denen Predigern verfertiget durch Abraham a Santa
Clara... Verlegt und mit Kupfern vermengt durch Christoph
Weigeln in Nürnberg. Würzburg, Hiob Hertzen, [volume II and
III: Martin Frantz Hertz], 1711, 1711, 1737. £6,000
Three volumes, 8vo, engraved frontispiece, pp. [xiv], 532, [12] contents,
with 100 engraved plates; engraved frontispiece, pp. [xii], 793,
catalogue fifteen