Catalogue Number 7 - Susanne Schulz-Falster

First edition (later reprinted in Scheler’s Annalen der Teutschen Akademien
(1790–91) of an interesting article on the Wnancial and cultural viability of
small universities. König, professor of metaphysics at Altdorf, presents various
proposals for university reform which were being discussed at the time.
One idea was to follow the English example and copy the collegiate system,
another to concentrate on large seats of learning only, and close small universities
or even all universities not located in a major city. König shows in
his Wctitious dialogue between Logistes and Demopheles the cultural and
economical beneWts of medium-sized universities, all based on facts gathered
at Altdorf University. He calculates the money spent in the city by
students and teaching staV, scholarships and donations concentrated on the
city, and other forms of ‘outside investment’ in an otherwise unremarkable
town. A large proportion of the working population of a university town is
directly or indirectly employed by the university, even the taxable income of
the state increases with the higher respect that is aVorded to it. He shows
how in addition to intangible beneWts like higher prestige, direct Wnancial
beneWts can be attributed to the universities. He also makes some interesting
comments on the organisation and Wnancing of scholarships and donations,
referring extensively to Siebenkees’ publication on the subject.
In the end it appears conWrmed that universities are of Wnancial beneWt to
the state, however, the question of whether universities in small towns are
intellectually viable remains to be resolved.
OCLC and RLIN list only one copy, at Göttingen University.
Early Lithography
42 [KONING, Jacobus.] Algemeene Ophelderende Verklaring
van het Oud Letterschrift in Steenplaatdruk. Uitgegeven door de
Maatschappij: Tot nut van ‘t Algemeen. Leyden, Deventer, en
Groningne, bij D. du Mortier en Zoon, J. H. de Lange, en J.
Oomkens, 1818. £780
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue seven
Two volumes, text volume: 8vo, pp. [iv], 66; plate volume: 4to. ll. 17
(measuring 290 x 235 mm) folded once, mounted on guards;
contemporary wrappers, a little dog-eared and extremities rubbed, but
in all very nice and clean copies.
First edition, uncommon of this very early example of the use of lithography
in printing, foreshadowing one of the main uses of this new printing
technique. The inventor of lithography, Senefelder, had been aware of the
possibilities of his printing technique for the reproduction of old documents
and for facsimiles. This is put into practice in Koning’s work on
Dutch medieval handwriting and palaeography drawn from his own collection.
Forty-eight lithographic facsimiles of handwriting from medieval
times to the seventeenth century are lithographically printed on seventeen
plates. They are transcribed and presented with a commentary in the accompanying
letterpress booklet. The reproductions are faithful facsimiles,
produced by means of translucent transfer paper. They prove the suitability
of lithography for making facsimiles of documents, demonstrate the capabilities
of this new printing process, and established a pattern for palaeographical
books later in the century. This is in fact the Wrst work ever to be
printed on Dutch palaeography.
Twyman, Early Lithographed books, p. 211, RLIN records copies a the Getty Library,
the University of Southern California, Harvard, Columbia University and
the Grolier Club.
Tuna Fishing Rights oV Sicily
43 [LAW.] Contratti di Compra, Transazione fatta in Spagna con
sua Cattolica Maestà, Determinazioni, ed Ordini del Tribunale del
Real Patrimonio, per l’acquisto, e franchezze dell’Isole, e Tonnare di
Favignana, Formiche, Levanzo, Maretino, San Vittore, Mare delli
Porci, Raisgerbi ed altri, possessi dali Signori Conte Gio. Luca,
Marches Paolo Girolamo quondam Giuseppe, e Marches Paolo
Girolamo, e Monsignor Lazaro quondam Giol. Francesco della
Nobilissima Famiglia Pallavincino della Città di Genova. Seconda
Impressione dedicata alla Grandezza del Signor Conte Marches Gio.
Luca Pallavicino. . . In Palermo, nella Stamperia di Angelo Felicella,
1731. £1800
Folio, pp. [ii], 147; large engraved heraldic vignette to title page,
decorated initials; very clean and crisp in contemporary full sheep,
boards with central gilt decoration, gilt panelling and corner pieces;
spine ruled in gilt, a.e.g.; spine crudely repaired at head, head and foot
of spine chipped, some surface worming to lower board; binding
sprung; internally very clean and crisp.
Second edition, presumably the Wrst public edition, clearly bound for presentation
purposes, of a very rare economic and legal document certifying
the transfer of the title and Wshing rights to the Egadi Islands from the