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Prinz Carl von Solms-Braunfels. Texas....
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Description
Exceedingly Rare Primary Handbook for German Immigrants to Texas
Prinz Carl von Solms-Braunfels. Texas.
Geschildert in Beiziehung auf seine geographischen, socialen und
übrigen Verhältnisse mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die deutsche
Colonisation. Ein Handbuch für Auslwanderer nach Texas... Nebst
zwei Karten von Texas. Frankfurt am Main: Johann David
Sauerländer's Verlag, 1846.FIRST EDITION, second issue (see below). 8vo. [i-iii] iv-x, [1] 2-134 pages. Four folding lithographed plans and maps (one map with contemporary outline coloring and shading). 8vo, original tan printed paper wrappers. Housed in a modern quarter morocco clamshell case.
One of the most important of early Texas immigration guidebooks, by the famed German colonizer in Texas. As the head of the Society for German Emigration to Texas, Solms-Braunfels (1812-1875) had detailed and accurate information about Texas, its geography, towns, etc. He provides perceptive commentary on the range of questions pertinent to the immigrant, including agriculture, geography, government (or lack thereof), the state of Texas towns, etc. Prince Solms-Braunfels had arrived in the Republic in 1844, and later that year was followed by the first wave of German emigrants sponsored by the Society. He personally led them to New Braunfels, where they quickly had the beginnings of a new settlement. Once the enterprise was launched, Solms-Braunfels returned to Germany in 1845 and never returned to the United States. Prince Carl warns would-be immigrants to take note of American craftiness, especially rampant in Texas where residents "are self-opinionated and boastful, unpleasing in their social dealings, and very dirty in their manners and habits." The work is notable for avoiding the florid and overly enthusiastic language of other guidebooks, offering instead a convincing picture of the good and bad points of life in Texas.
The present copy is a variant (or second) state of the original edition, with "Zweite Auflage" (second edition) stated on front wrapper, but otherwise the sheets are the same as the first edition. Moreover, in this issue, the two maps, which did not appear in the first edition, have now been added. The large Karte von Texas is advertised here on the verso of the back wrapper as available separately. The wrapper title also announces the availability of the New Braunfels and Fredericksburg maps, which was probably the occasion for the new wrappers. The four folding maps are important and remarkably accurate. They depict plans for the towns of Friedrichsburg, New Braunfels, as well as handsome larger maps of Texas (with inset of Mexico and the Gulf Coast of North America) and northwest Texas. This final map has a little hand-coloring in outline.
The maps, which were prepared with the assistance of Texas Ranger extraordinaire and surveyor John Coffee Hays, are carefully delineated, using first-hand surveying and material from the General Land Office. The first map is a general map of Texas, very detailed and with the various colonies shown, including: Fischer et Comp, Bourgeois D'Ovant, Robertson's Colony, Burnet's Colony, McMullen & McGloin's Colony, De Leon's Colony, Power's colony, Austin's colonies, etc. The map is very strong on locating Texas tribes. The second map focuses on Central Texas and the Hill Country, showing the area between Bastrop and well beyond San Saba. This appears to be one of the early printed maps of Central Texas and the Hill Country. Outline coloring sets off Bastrop County, Travis County, the road from New Braunfels to "Fridrichsburg," and the lands of the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas. This may be the earliest printed map to locate Fredericksburg, which was not laid out until a year after this map. Some interesting features and places found on the map include Enchanted Rock, San Saba Fort, mineral regions, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, New Braunfels, Austin, Bastrop, Seguin, etc. The plans of Fredericksburg and New Braunfels are the earliest printed plans of those towns.
Excessively scarce: No copy of either issue appears in online auction records.
Condition: Wrappers very lightly soiled and with a few small stains, upper blank right corner of front wrap slightly chipped, minor wear to extremities. Ink library stamp of Löwenstein-Frendenberg Library (Wertheim) and old ink ms. number on upper wrapper. Slight marginal toning to title, some pale foxing and toning to text. Maps lightly foxed, final map with a little marginal discoloration, and one short tear to fold at gutter margin (barely touching border); generally the maps are fine.
References: Agatha, p. 3; Jenkins, Basic Texas Books 190; Clark, Old South III:241; Graff 3889; Howes S-751; Raines, p. 42; Sabin 86595; Vandale 163.
Provenance: Löwenstein-Frendenberg Library (Wertheim), old library stamp in purple ink and ink Ms. number on upper wrapper.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
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