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Historisch-genealogischer Calendar, oder Jahrbuch der merkwürdigsten neuen Welt-begebenheiten für 1784


Jahrbuch der merkwürdigsten neuen Weltbegebenheiten für 1784 enthaltend die Geschichte der Revolution von Nord-America
Geschichte der Revolution von Nord-America
History of the Revolution in North America
Illustrated by: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki (German, 1726–1801)
Illustrated by: Johann Wilhelm Meil (German, 1733–1805)
Engraver: Daniel Berger (German, 1744–1824)
Author: Matthias Christian Sprengel (German, 1746–1803)
Publisher: Haude und Spener, Berlin
1783
Place of Publication: Leipzig, Germany

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with 19 etchings and engravings, some hand-colored
Dimensions Overall: 11 x 7 x 1.8 cm (4 5/16 x 2 3/4 x 11/16 in.)
Credit Line William A. Sargent Fund
Accession Number44.827
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Leipzig: for Haude und Spener [1783]

Catalogue Raisonné Engelmann, Chodowiecki, 492
Description(Leipzig: for Haude und Spener, [1783]) Small octavo; 143 leaves, plus plates; black-stamped light green paper boards (beige paper case, green cloth spine).

Illustrations of events of American Revolution; portraits of Washington and other political figures; illustrations of medals, flags, and uniforms.

Apparently first edition, in almanac/calendar form, of Sprengel's history of the American Revolution, separately reprinted later [see online description of copy in Clements Library, Univ. of Michigan]. This edition includes twelve illustrations by Chodowiecki of events from the Revolution, including the Boston Tea Party, Battle of Bunker Hill, signing of the Declaration of Independence, Franklin at the French court, etc. It also includes an allegorical engraved title designed by Meil; a hand-colored foldout map of North America; a plate with portraits of George Washington, General Gates, Benjamin Franklin, Präsid Laurens, and John Paul Jones; illustration of two commemorative medals; and hand-colored illustrations of American flags and uniforms worn by officers and soldiers.

The Berlin publisher Haude und Spener issued a long series of the "Historisch-genealogischer calendar," many illustrated by Chodowiecki. His illustrations for almanachs and calendars were "executed twelve to a plate, corresponding to the months of the year, with two sets of six back to back, then cut up for insertion into the volumes...." (A. Griffiths and F. Carey, German Printmaking in the Age of Goethe [London: 1994], p. 63)

For a 1784 French copy of these plates, see "La Révolution française et l'Europe 1789-99" [exh. cat.] (Paris: Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, 1989), vol. 1, cat. 446 (repr.).
ProvenanceBy 1944, William H. Schab Gallery, New York; sold by William H. Schab Gallery to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 14, 1944)