Thomas Frognall Dibdin - A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three

T >> Thomas Frognall Dibdin >> A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three

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There was a frightful, but expressive and well coloured, head of a Dwarf,
or Fool, of which Mr. Lewis took a pencil-copy; but it is not of sufficient
importance to enclose in this despatch. It is the EARLY GERMAN SCHOOL of
Art which is here the grand and almost exclusive feature of
attraction--speaking in an antiquarian point of view. ReIchard estimates
the number of these pictures at _twelve hundred_, but I should rather say
_seven hundred_.

I find, however, that it will be impossible to compress all my _Augsbourg_
intelligence in one epistle; and so I reserve the remainder for another
opportunity.

[23] [Several years have elapsed since I have received a letter from Mons.
Le Bret. Is he alive? If he be living, let him be assured of my
unalterable and respectful attachment: and that I have unfeigned
pleasure in annexing a fac-simile of his AUTOGRAPH--from a letter to
me of the date of June 8th 1819: a letter, which I received on the
17th of the same month following--the very day of our _Roxburghe
Anniversary Dinner_. Singularly enough, this letter begins in the
following strain of bibliographical jocoseness: "_Monsieur, et tres
reverend Frere de Boocace l'Immortel!_"]

[Illustration: Signature--f.c. Lebret]

[24] The predominant religion is the Protestant. Indeed I may say that the
number of Catholics is exceedingly limited: perhaps, not an eighth
part of the population of the town.

[25] I presume this to be the earliest date which any of his books exhibit.
His brother GUNTHER, or GINTHER (for the name is spelt both ways in
his colophons) began to print in 1468. Lord Spencer possesses a
beautiful copy (which I obtained from the library of St. Peter's
Monastery, at Salzbourg) of _Bonaventure's Meditations upon the Life
of Christ_, of the date of 1468, printed by G. Zainer, or (Zeiner)
at Augsbourg; and considered to be the first effort of his press.

[26] The note, above mentioned, was written in Latin: the Professor telling
me that he preferred that language to the French, as he thought he
could write it more grammatically. A _Latin note_ must be rather
a curiosity to my readers: which, as it is purely bibliographical, and
in other respects highly characteristic of the _bon-hommie_ of
the writer, shall receive a place here. After mentioning the books
above specified, the Professor goes on thus:

"Haec paucula e pluribus notare libuit, quae reliqua temporis
angustia ostendere non permisit. Habeo enim alias, quas vocant,
editiones principes, e.g. Diogenis Laertii, Bas. 1533-4. Josephi,
Bas. 1544. fol. Jo. Chrysostomi [Greek: _peri pronoias_]
1526-8. Ej. [Greek: peri hierosunes], ib 1525-8. Aliorum Graecorum
et Patrum. Calpurnii et Nemesiani Eclogarum editionem, ab. do.
Alex. Brassicano curatam editionem ad MS. antiquum factam et
Argent. 1519-4. impressam. Praeterea aliquot Aldinas et Juntinas
editiones, aliquot a Mich. Vascosano, Paris. factas, in quibus
Thucydidis Libri III. priores, Paris. 1548. 4. cujus margini
Lectt. Varr. e MSto adscriptae sunt, non memoratae in editione
Bipontina. AEschylus, ex edit. Franc. Robortelli, Venet. 1552. 8.
Idem ex ed. Henr. Stephani, ex offic. Henr. Stephani, 1557. 4.
Dionysii Halic. Opera Rhet. ex. ed. Rob. Stephani, Par. 1547. Fol.
Diodor. Sicul. ex edit. Henr. Stephani, 1559. Fol.

"Pauculos Codd. MSS. e. gr. Ciceronis de Officiis, Aratoris in
Acta App. Fragmenta Liuii et Terentii ostendere tempus non
concessit: praeter eos habeo aliquot Ciceronis Orationes, Excerpta
ex Liuio, duos Historiae Griseldis, et alios minoris pretii.

"Maximam collectionis, Bibliothecam appellare non fas est, meae
partem efficit magnus librorum et libellorum numerus ab Ao. 1500.
usque ad 1550. editorum a Reformatoribus eorumque aduersariis, qui
numerum sex millium superant, in quibus adsunt Serueti de
Trinitatis erroribus, eiusdemque Dialogi, Tomi Pasquillorum, Henr.
Corn. Agrippae aliquot opera, Lemnii Epigrammata, aliquot libelli,
Lutheri et Melancthonis manu ornati; praeterea alia Collectio
Documentorum, quorum antiquissimum est ab. A. 1181 et Epistolarum
[Greek: _autographon_], a viris doctis Saeculorum XV. XVI.
XVII. XVIII. conscriptarum, in quibus Henr. Steinhoevvelii, Raym.
Peraudi, Lutheri, Melancthonis, Zwinglii, Gruteri, Casauboni,
Ludolfi, Camerarii, Patris, Rittershusiorum, Piccarti, aliorumque.

"Sed nolo longiore enarratione molestus esse, ne vanus esse
uidear, a quo vitio nemo me alienior est. Vt divina providentia
iter prosperum esse iubeat, est, quod ex animo TIBI, VIR--precatur

Vlmae,
Aug.
MDCCCXVIII.

[Illustration: Signature]

P.S. Et TIBI praesenti, et superiora heri nocte et somno ingruente
scribens referre omiseram, esse mihi ex XXII. libris _ab
Academia Veneta, della Fama dicta_, editis XV. Omnes adeo sunt
rari, ut vel instructissimae bibliothecae vix aliquot eorum
habeant. Addo _germanicam Sixti Papae Bullae datae 1474
versionem,_ sine dubio Vlmae eodem anno impressam, et quinque
foliis constantem; quam apud me vidisti."

The Professor, with the above note, was also so obliging as to present
me with a copy of his "_Specimen Historico-Litterarium de Academia
Veneta_. Qua Scholarchae et Vniversum Gymnasii quod Ulmae floret
Consilium Maecenates Patronos Fautores ejusdem Gymnasii ad Orationem
aditialem A.D. XXIV. Febr. A. 1794, habendam officiose atque decenter
invitant."--A Latin brochure of twelve pages: "_Ulmae ex Officina
Wagneri, Patris_."

[27] [There is an excellent lithographic print of this Rath Haus, which I
possess.]

[28] The postboys in the Duchy of Baden, and in the territories of
Wuertemberg, have also horns; but I never could get any thing, in the
character of a tune, performed by either of them. The moment you enter
BAVARIA, you observe a greater elasticity of character. [The ARMS of
Bavaria head the first page of this third volume of my Tour.]

[29] The reader may try the effect of perusing the following articles
(taken from this printed catalogue) upon his own muscles. The
performance, as I suspect, is by a native of Augsbourg.

75. _Portrait of Justus Lipsius by Rembrand_. This head of a
singulary verity shews of draughts of a man of science: the
treatement of Clothing is most perfectful, the respiring of life,
the hands all wunder-worthy to be admired. 208. _A
hunting-piece_ of great beauty by Schneyders, the dogs seem to be
alife, the wild-fowls, a hare, toils, just as in nature. 341.
_Queen Marie Christine of Sweden_ represented in a very noble
situation of body and tranquility of mind, of a fine verity and a
high effect of clair-obscure. By Rembrand. 376. _Cromwell
Olivier_, kit-cat the size of life, a Portrait of the finest
carnation, who shews of a perfect likeness and verity, school of
Vandyk, perhaps by himself. 398. Portrait of _Charles the first
king of England_ (so many Portraits of famous persons by Classick
painters will very seldom be found into a privat collection) good
picture by Janson van Miereveld. 399. A large and precious battle
piece representing a scene of the famous _victory by Blindheim
wonen by Marleborough_ over the frensh 1704. We see here the
portrait of this hero very resembling, he in a graceful attitude
on horsebak, is just to order a movement: a many generals and
attendance are arround him. The leaguer, the landscape, the
groups, the fighting all with the greatest thruth, there is
nothing that does not contribute to embellish this very remarcable
picture, painted by a contemporary of the evenement and famous
artist in battle pieces, George Philipp Rugendas.

[30] This was no uncommon representation in the early period of art. "In
the church of St. Peter the Younger, at Strasbourg, about the year
1515, there was a kind of large printed placard, with figures on each
side of it, suspended near a confessional. On one side, was a naked
Christ, removing the fire of purgatory with his cross, and sending all
those, who came out of the fire, to the Pope--who was seated in his
pontifical robes, having letters of indulgence before him. Before him,
also, knelt emperors, kings, cardinals, bishops and others: behind him
was a sack of silver, with many captives delivered from Mahometan
slavery--thanking the supreme Pontiff, and followed by clergymen
paying the ransom money to the Turks. There might also be seen
captives, at the bottom of a deep well, shut down by bars of iron; and
men, women, and children, making all manner of horrible contortions.
"Those, says the chronicler Wencker, "who saw such a piteous sight,
wept, and gave money liberally--for the possession of indulgences;--of
which the money, raised by the sale, was supposed to be applied
towards the ransom of Christian captives." HERMANN; _Notices
Historiques, &c. de Strasbourg_: vol. ii. p. 434.

LETTER IV.

AUGSBOURG. CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE. POPULATION. TRADE. THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.

In ancient times--that is to say, upwards of three centuries ago--the CITY
OF AUGSBOURG was probably the most populous and consequential in the
kingdom of Bavaria. It was the principal residence of the noblesse, and the
great mart of commerce. Dukes, barons, nobles of every rank and degree,
became domiciled here. A thousand blue and white flags streamed from the
tops of castellated mansions, and fluttered along the then almost
impregnable ramparts. It was also not less remarkable for the number and
splendour of its religious establishments. Here was a cathedral, containing
twenty-four chapels; and an abbey or monastery (of _Saints Vlric and Afra_)
which had no rival in Bavaria for the size of its structure and the wealth
of its possessions. This latter contained a LIBRARY, both of MSS. and
printed books, of which the recent work of Braun has luckily preserved a
record;[31] and which, but for such record, would have been unknown to
after ages. The treasures of this Library are now entirely dispersed; and
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is the grand repository of them. Augsbourg,
in the first instance, was enriched by the dilapidations of numerous
monasteries; especially upon the suppression of the order of the Jesuits.
The paintings, books, and relics, of every description, of such monasteries
as were in the immediate vicinity of this city, were taken away to adorn
the town hall, churches, capitals and libraries. Of this collection, (of
which no inconsiderable portion, both for number and intrinsic value, came
from the neighbouring monastery of Eichstadt,[32]) there has of course been
a pruning; and many flowers have been transplanted to Munich. Yet there are
_graphic_ treasures in Augsbourg well deserving the diligent search and
critical examination of the English Antiquary. The church of the
_Recollets_ has an organ which is considered among the noblest in Europe:
nor must I forget to notice the pulpit, by Eichlen, and some old pictures
in the church of St. Anne.

[Illustration: MONASTERY OF SAINTS ULRIC & AFRA, AUGSBURG.]

The TOWN HALL in this city, which I mentioned in my last letter, is thought
to be the finest in Germany. It was yet exceeded, as I learn, by the old
EPISCOPAL PALACE, now dismembered of its ancient dimensions, and divided
into public offices of government. The principal church, at the end of the
_Maximilian Street_, is that which once formed the chief ornament of the
famous Abbey of Sts. Ulric and Afra.[33] I should think that there is no
portion of the present building older than the fourteenth century; while it
is evident that the upper part of the tower is of the middle of the
sixteenth. It has a nearly globular or mosque-shaped termination--so common
in the greater number of the Bavarian churches. It is frequented by
congregations both of the Catholic and Protestant persuasion; and it was
highly gratifying to see, as I saw, human beings assembled under the same
roof, equally occupied in their different forms of adoration, in doing
homage to their common Creator. It was also pleasing, the other day, to
witness, upon some high religious festival, the crowds of respectable and
well-dressed people (chiefly females) who were issuing from the Church just
above mentioned. It had quite an English Sunday appearance. I have said
that these females were "well dressed"--I should, rather have said superbly
dressed: for their head-ornaments--consisting of a cap, depressed at top,
but terminating behind in a broad bow--are usually silk, of different
colours, entirely covered with gold or silver gauze, and spangles. The hair
appeared to be carefully combed and plaited, either turned up in a broad
mass behind, or terminating in ringlets. I asked the price of one of the
simplest of these caps--worn by the common order of servants--and found it
to be little less than a guinea. But they last long, and the owners attach
some importance to them.

Augsbourg was once distinguished for great learning and piety, as well as
for political consequence; and she boasts of a very splendid
_martyrological roll_.[34] At the present day, all is comparatively dull
and quiet; but you cannot fail to be struck with the magnificence of many
of the houses, and the air of importance hence given to the streets; while
the paintings upon the outer walls add much to the splendid effect of the
whole. The population of Augsbourg is supposed to amount to about thirty
thousand. In the time of Maximilian, and Charles V. it was, I make no
doubt, twice as numerous.

Of the TRADE of Augsbourg, I am not enabled to transmit any very flattering
details. Silks, stuffs, dimity, (made here for the first time) and
jewellery, are the chief commodities; but for the _latter_, connected with
articles of dress, there is rather a brisk demand. The reputation of the
manufactory of _Seethaler_, is deserving of mention. In the repository of
this respectable tradesman you will find varieties of every description:
rings, buckles, clasps, bracelets, and images of Saints, of peculiar and
interesting forms. Yet they complain here of stagnation of commerce in
almost every one of its branches: although they admit that the continuance
of peace will bring things comfortably round again. The late war exhausted
both the population and the treasury of Bavaria. They do a good stroke of
business in the concerns of the bank: and this is considered rather a
famous place for the management of letters and bills of exchange. With
respect to the _latter_, some singular customs and privileges are, I
understand, observed here: among others, if a bill become due on a
_Wednesday_, eight days of grace are invariably allowed.

It was the thoughts of the PUBLIC LIBRARY alone that afforded the chief
comfort to the depressed state of my spirits, from the excessive heat of
the day. What I might _do_, and at last, what I had _done_, within the
precincts of that same library, was sure to be my greatest solace during
the evening rambles near the ramparts. The good fortune which attended me
at Stuttgart, has followed to this place. Within two yards' length of me
repose, at this present instant, the first _Horace_, and the finest copy
imaginable of the _Polish Protestant Bible_ of Prince Radzivil--together
with a _Latin Bible_ of 1475, by _Frisner and Sensenschmidt_, in two
enormous folio volumes, of an execution of almost unparalleled
magnificence. These are no common stimulants to provoke appetite. It
remains to see whether the banquet itself be composed of proportionably
palatable ingredients.

On leaving Stuttgart, M. Le Bret told me that Messrs. BEYSCHLAG and MAY
were the principal librarians or curators of the Public Library of this
place; and that I should find them intelligent and pleasant gentlemen.
Professor Veesenmeyer at Ulm confirmed this statement. I had a letter from
the latter, to the Rector Beyschlag, which procured me an immediate
entrance into the library. The Rector's coadjutor, Professor May, was also
most prompt to shew me every rarity. In the countenance of the _latter_, I
saw, what you could not fail to call that of a handsome-looking English
gentleman. I had never before so vehemently desired to speak the German
language, or for my new acquaintance to speak my own. However, the French
tongue was the happy medium of imparting my ideas and propositions to both
the gentlemen in question; and we had hardly exchanged half a dozen
sentences, when I opened what I considered (and what eventually turned out
to be) a well directed fire upon the ancient volumes by which I was at the
time surrounded.

The exterior of this library has a monastic form. The building is low and
unpretending, having an octangular tower, up the staircase of which you
mount to the library. It is situated within a stone's throw of the High
Street. The interior of the library is not less unpretending than its
exterior: but in a closet, at the hither end, (to the left on entering) are
preserved the more ancient, choice, and curious volumes. In one compartment
of this cabinet-like retreat are contained the _books printed at Augsbourg_
in the infancy of the press of this town:[35] a collection, extremely
creditable in itself and in its object; and from which, no consideration,
whether of money, or of exchange for other books, would induce the curators
to withdraw a volume. Of course I speak not of _duplicates_ of the early
Augsbourg press. Two comparatively long rooms, running in parallel lines,
contain the greater part of the volumes of the public library; and amongst
them I witnessed so many genuine, fair, and original conditioned copies of
literary works, of the early period of the Reformation, that I almost
sighed to possess them--except that I knew they could not possibly pay the
expenses of conveyance.

But for the "well directed fire" above alluded to. It produced a
_capitulation_ respecting the following articles--which were selected by
myself from the boudoir just mentioned, and about which neither mystery was
observed nor secrecy enjoined. In fact, the contract, of the venders was to
be submitted to, and sanctioned by, the supreme magistracy of the place.
The Rector Beyschlag hath much of merriment and of wit in his composition.
"Now, Sir,"--observed he--"bring those treasures forward which we can
spare, and let us afterwards settle about their value: ourselves affixing a
price." I desired nothing better. In consequence forth came the _first_
(quarto) _Horace_, without date or place, fair, sound, and perfect: the
_Familiar Epistles of Cicero_ of the date of 1469, by S. and Pannartz, in a
condition perfectly unparalleled in every respect; the _Latin Bible_ of
_Frisner and Sensenschmidt_ of 1475, in an equally desirable and pristine
condition;[36] the _Polish Protestant Bible_ of 1563, with its first
rough-edged margins and in wooden binding; _St. Jerom's Epistles_, printed
_at Parma_, by _A. de Portilia_--most captivating to the eye; with a
curious black-letter broadside, in Latin sapphics, pasted in the interior
of the cover; the _History of Bohemia, by Pope Pius II_, of 1475, as fresh
and crackling as if it had just come from the printer: _Schuzler's edition
of the Hexameron of Ambrosius_, 1472: the _Hungarian Chronicle_ of 1485....
"Ohe jam satis est...." for one bargain, at least,--methinks I hear you
remark.

It may be so; but the measure must be fuller. Accordingly, after having
shot off my great guns, I brought my howitzers into play. Then commenced a
pleasant and not unprofitable parley respecting little grammatical tracts,
devotional manuals, travels, philology, &c. When lo!--up sprung a
delightful crop of _Lilies_, _Donatuses_, _Mandevilles_, _Turrecrematas_,
_Brandts_, _Matthews of Cracow_--in vellum surcoats, white in colour, firm
in substance, and most talkative in turning over their leaves! These were
mere _florin_ acquisitions: the preceding were paid for in heavy metal of a
_golden_ hue. It is not fair to betray all that took place upon this
Cockerian transaction; but there may be no harm in mentioning that my purse
was lightened by upwards of 100 louis d'or. My spirits were lightened in
the same proportion. Neither venders nor vendee grieved at the result.
Professor May was most joyous; and although the Rector Beyschlag was
sonorous in voice, restless in action, and determined in manner--about
fixing an alarmingly high price upon the _first Horace_--yet, by degrees,
he subsided into a softer note, and into a calmer action--and the Horace
became _mine_ by a sort of contre-projet proposition.

Nothing would please Professor May but that I must go home with him, and
try my luck in purchasing a few similar rarities out of his _own_
collection. I did so. Madame Francs' supplemental supply became gradually
diminished, and I began to think that if I went on in this manner I should
not only never reach _Vienna_, but not even _Munich_. This doubt was
frankly stated to my book-guardians; and my _ducats_ were immediately
commuted into _paper_. The result will doubtless prove the honour of the
purchaser; for I have drawn upon a quarter which I had exclusively in view
when I made the bargain, and which was never known to fail me. "Surely,"
thought I to myself as I returned to my hotel, "Messrs. Beyschlag and May
are among the most obliging and the most enlightened of their fraternity."

I returned to the Public Library the next morning, as well to conclude a
bargain for an exchange of books for certain recent bibliographical
publications, as to take a list of a few of the more rare, fine, and
curious volumes, in their own collection, which were destined _always_ to
retain their situations.

They have, very properly, the FIRST BOOK PRINTED AT AUGSBOURG: namely,
_Aurbach's Meditations upon the Life of Christ_, of the date of 1468,
printed by _Gunther Zainer_. But one of the most uncommon books examined by
me was "_Augustinus Ypponensis Episcopus De Consensu Evangelistarum: In
ciuitate Langingen. Impressus. anno a partu virginis salutifero.
Millesimoquadringentesimoseptuagesimotercio. Pridie Idus. Aprilis_." The
type is very singular; half gothic and half roman. Of the printer and place
I know nothing; except that I learnt from the librarians that "_Langingen_"
is situated about ten leagues from Augsbourg, upon the Danube. I made every
effort--as well by the _ducat_ as by the _exchange_ method--to prevail upon
them to part with this book; but to no purpose. The blood-freezing reply of
Professor Veesenmeyer was here repeated--"ca reste, a ... Augsbourg." This
book is unbound. Another volume, of the same equivocal but tempting
description, was called "_Alcuinus de Trinitate_:--IMPRESSUM IN
UTTIPURRHA _Monasterio Sacto^{4} marty^{4}, Alexadri et Theodri.
Ordiis Scti Bndicti. Anno Sesquimillesimo KL. septembris_ [Hebrew]."
It is printed in a rude gothic letter; and a kind of fly leaf contains a
wood-cut portrait of Alcuin. The monastery, where this volume was printed,
is now suppressed. A pretty little volume--"as fresh as a daisy" (so says
my ms. note taken upon the spot) of the "_Hortulus Rosarium de valle
lachrymarum_" (to which a Latin ode by S. Brandt is prefixed), printed by
I. de Olpe, in 1499, in the original wooden binding--closed my researches
among the volumes executed in the fifteenth century.

As I descended into the sixteenth century, the choice was less, although
the variety was doubtless greater. A fine genuine copy of _Geyler's
Navicula Fatuorum_, 1511, 4to. in its original binding, was quickly noted
down, and as quickly _secured_. It was a duplicate, and a ducat made it my
own. It is one of the commonest books upon the continent--although there
_was_ a time when certain bibliomaniacal madcaps, with us, pushed the
bidding for this volume up to the monstrously insane sum of L42:[37]--and
all, because it was coated in a Grolier binding! Among the theological
books, of especial curiosity, my guides directed my attention to the
following: "_Altera haec pars Testam^ti. veteris emendata est iuxta censuras
Inquisitionis Hispanicae an^o 79_. Nouu testam. recusandu omnino est;
rejicienduq. propter plurimos errores qui illius scholiis sunt
inserti." This was nothing else than the younger R. Stephen's edition of
the vulgate Bible of 1556, folio, of which the _New Testament_ was
absolutely SEALED UP. It had belonged to the library of the Jesuits. There
was a copy of Erasmus, "_Expurgatus iuxta censuram Academiae Louaniae an^o
79_." The name of the printer--which in the preceding Bible had been tried
to be _cancelled_--was here uniformly _erased_: but it was doubtless the
Basil edition of Erasmus by good old honest Froben and his sons-in-law.[38]

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