keit der darin enthaltenen bibliographischen Bemerkungen einen selbstständigen Werth. Der glückliche Besitzer aber ist in hingebendster Weise bestrebt, seine Schätze der gelehrten Welt zugänglich zu machen. Seine Neuausgaben der seltensten Bücher sind wahre Pracht- und Meisterwerke ihrer Art und gereichen nächst dem Herausgeber auch dem Verleger (B. G. Teubner) und dem Drucker (W. Drugulin in Leipzig) zur höchsten Ehre. Es sind diess facsimilierte Nachdrucke, so diplomatisch getreu ausgeführt, wie es ohne Zuhülfenahme der Photographie, mit beweglichen, zum Theile nachgeschnittenen Typen und Ornamenten möglich war. Seite für Seite und Zeile für Zeile abzudrucken, empfiehlt sich aus doppeltem Grunde: es erleichtert Satz und Correctar und bietet eine bequeme Unterlage zum Citieren. Diese Rücksichten sollten schwerer wiegen als jene auf Gleichheit der Ausstattung.“ Literarisches Centralblatt. 1879. No. 35. ORD erica, Em 1858 partia para o Rio de Janeiro n'um navio de vela de Hamburgo um joven naturalista, em condições espiciaes para estudar, com a major vantagem, os thesouros naturaes d'aquelle immenso imperio. O seu talento de pintor revelou-se então n'uma serie de aguarellas deliciosas, notabilissimas pelo seu caracter artistico e scientifico, pela elevada concepção esthetica e, ao mesmo tempo, profundamente verdadeira, fiel, d'aquella natureza excepcional. Emquanto o pincel trabalhava, nem por isso a penna descançava. A sua familia recebia numerosas cartas, que accompanhavam os seus trabalhos artisticos, como amplo commentario, em que um estylo summamente vivo e pittoresco amenisava as investigações scientificas mais rigorosas. Estas cartas, enriquecidas com cinco tratados especiaes, foram dadas á luz bastante tempo depois do regresso do autor á Allemanha em 1864. O interesse do autor não foi ainda completamente absorvido por estes trabalhos; á sua perspicaz intelligencia não escaparam os phenomenos linguisticos dos idiomas da America meridional e central, idiomas que constituem os instrumentos mais valiosos para uma justa apreciação da civilisação d'essas regiões, na época anterior ao dominio europeu. O snr. Platzmann emprehendeu pois resuscitar esses documentos, creando d'este modo a base indispensavel para ulteriores investigações n'esse dominio. Dez annos consagrou elle, como dissemos, á colleccionação das obras mais notaveis, de que Trübner dera ampla noticia bibliographica, formando uma bibliotheca americana dos thesouros mais raros, uma collecção unica. Depois deu o segundo passo, communicando os seus estudos bibliographicos ao publico; é inutil encarecer a grande importancia de um trabalho d'esta ordem, que contem tambem valiosas noticias biographicas. Em seguida começou a reimpressão methodica dos tractados mais raros e mais importantes, empreza mais propria de uma academia ou de qualquer outra associação opulenta, do que de um simples particular. Estes trabalhos são o melhor elogio do autor, que tem merecido varias distinções de differentes governos. O do Brazil creou-o cavalleiro da Ordem da Rosa, o da Austria conceden-lhe a grande medalha d'ouro: Litteris et Artibus, a Sociedade americana de França conferiu-lhe a honra de laureatus etc. CAROLINA MICHAËLIS DE VASCONCELLOS. Revista da Sociedade de Instruccão do Porto. No. 1. Mit Aus der Bai von Paranaguá. Von Julius Platzmann. einer Karte. Leipzig, Teubner. [IV u. 272 S.] gr. 8. broch. M. 8.-, gebunden M. 10.50. Paranaguá, a large bay in the south of Brazil, according to the native geographers, is ,,picturesque, enchanting, sinuous, adorned with islands, encircled with verdant mountains, abounding in precious woods, full of game of all descriptions, and the resort of foreigners attracted by the mildness and hospitality of the inhabitants." Herr Julins Platzmann's record of his long residence in this fascinating spot, couched in the form of letters to his friends at home, may be defined as a series of variations upon this alluring description, with a large infusion of the element of natural history. In fact, for a traveller of modest pretensions, simple tastes, and active habits, Paranaguá would appear to be one of the most delightful residences in the world. Beauty crowds upon beauty in the author's pages, and the effect of such accumulated opulence is bewilderment, almost intoxication, such as must usually attend the attempt to render the gorgeous luxuriance of tropical nature. It is a relief when this oppressive splendour is chequered by scientific details concerning rare plants and animals, or notes of sport, although these are frequently romantic enough, as when the writer describes an expedition to shoot tapirs in myrtle groves by moonlight, close upon the beached verge" of the measureless Atlantic. On the whole, the general impression is that Herr Platzmann has had a rare piece of good fortune, which he has most thoroughly deserved. His energy and cheerfulness, his love of science and keen sense of natural beauty, produce the most favourable impression. He appears to have found the natives kind, helpful, and hospitable people. Dinner, he says, usually consists of black beans (feijões) stewed along with sun-dried beef, bacon, the crown of the palmetto (with the look of a Jerusalem artichoke and the flavour of asparagus), roots, and slices of gourd. Oranges are never wanting, and wild fowl, fish, and oysters are frequent additions to the meal. The climate would seem to be by no means insalubrious." Saturday Review. 1873. February. ,,Ce livre composé sous la forme de lettres écrites à ses parents est imprégné de poésie, de fraîcheur et d'enthousiasme: ses divers chapitres sont comme autant de peintures simples et délicieuses de la nature tropicale. Dès cette époque nous nous étions promis de le faire connaître, de l'analyser et d'en traduire quelques fragments." La Belgique Horticole. 1875. Druck von B. G. Teubner in Leipzig. AMERICAN, EUROPEAN, & ORIENTAL LITERARY RECORD A Register of the most Important Works Published in North and South America, With Occasional Notes on German, Dutch, Danish, French, Italian, Spanish, Messrs. TRÜBNER & Co., 57 and 59, Ludgate Hill, London, have imported, or can supply, all Works mentioned in this Literary Record. Intending purchasers having any difficulty in procuring them, should communicate direct with the Publishers of it. It would be imprudent to import many works in large quantities; but all specified can be supplied if a reasonable time be allowed, excepting those containing copyright matter, or in any way infringing British copyright law. Books can now be forwarded to any part of AMERICA, EUROPE, TURKEY IN ASIA, GIBRALTAR, MALTA, CYPRUS, ALGERIA, TUNIS, EGYPT, MOROCCO, MADEIRA, AZORES, CANARY ISLANDS, HELIGOLAND, CANADA, and PERSIA, at the rate of one Halfpenny for every two ounces (4d. per lb.). To INDIA, CEYLON, CHINA and JAPAN, for lid. per two ounces (1s. per lb.) And to AUSTRALIA, for ld. per oz. (1s. 4d. per lb.) FREDERIK MULLER. AFTER the establishment of the Republic of the United Netherlands at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and more especially after the declaration of its independence at the conclusion of the peace at Münster in 1648, the Netherlands arrived at the highest pinnacle of its greatness. The country became the seat and the asylum of religious and political liberty in Europe. The press was absolutely free, all religious opinions were tolerated, and civil liberty became the birthright of all denizens of the Republic. Its prosperity was unexampled, and the Arts and Sciences flourished to a remarkable degree. Who It was but natural that with such favouring conditions the Netherlands book-trade should have had a great chance, and its members during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were not slow in availing themselves of it. does not, in and out of the Netherlands, know the honoured names of the Plantins, the Elzevirs, the Blaeus, Wetsteins, Waesberghes. Luchtmans, Enschedes, and their confrères ? It was mainly owing to them that Holland's press became famous over the whole civilized world, and that Dutch paper and Dutch type became celebrated, and still command universal respect. The troubles which Holland had to go through during the last century, the rising naval power of England and France, the French Revolutionary wars, the annexation to France, and the consequent loss by Holland of some of her finest colonial possessions, unfortunately reduced "Indefessus Agendo.” her power and influence greatly, and the Dutch book-trade lost simultaneously its preponderating European influence. But although more localized now, the standard of its members has not deteriorated, and it is not saying too much that they still occupy a foremost rank among their colleagues in Germany, France and England, for knowledge, culture, intelligence and activity. And Frederik Muller, who died on the 6th of January, and whose loss is deplored at home and abroad, was among them facile princeps. Frederik Muller was born at Amsterdam on the 22nd of July, 1817. He was the son of Samuel Muller, a Professor at the Mennonite Seminary, received a very careful training in his father's house, attended the Gymnasium at Amsterdam, and entered at an early age as an apprentice into the business of his uncle, Johannes Muller, one of the leading foreign booksellers, and also a publisher of important philological works, in the same city. Johannes Muller was a bookseller of the good old stamp; he had a high idea of the nobleness of his calling, and would have deemed it beneath his dignity to deal in any books not belonging to scientific and high-class literature. F. Muller, replete with classical lore, enjoyed, under his uncle's tuition, excellent opportunities of acquainting himself with the scientific literature of Germany, and the example of his worthy teacher no doubt gave to his mind the scholarly direction which he consistently followed out throughout his whole career. He had no easy time of it in his uncle's business, for the latter was a stern man, severe to himself, and severe in his demands on his subordinates. After having served his uncle for six years, he became a clerk, and afterwards a partner, of Jacobus Radink, at that time the leading antiquarian bookseller of Holland. Radink was rough and ready, a man of little education, and without a knowledge of the classical and hardly any of the modern languages, but long practice had made him familiar with the externals of old books, although of their contents he was rather ignorant. Whilst with him he had good opportunities of becoming acquainted with the great book treasures produced and accumulated for centuries in his native country, and which, stored up for some centuries, began at the time of Muller's embracing the profession of a bookseller to become dispersed. He also acquired, whilst in that position, great expertness in cataloguing, and in the management of book auctions. But no two men could have been more dissimilar than Radink and Muller, and it followed as a matter of course that they soon separated, and that Muller began business on his own account. This was in 1843, when Muller was at the age of 26: his first place of business being in a cellar or basement on the Rokin at Amsterdam. About the man and his business abode at that time we quote the words of his colleague and devoted friend, A. C. Kruseman, of Haarlem, himself an eminent member of the Dutch book trade." Who would have conjectured, whilst walking about thirty-five years ago along the Rokin at Amsterdam, and observing folios and quartos piled up for sale on the stone steps of a corner house, and so was tempted to descend into the damp basement, who, we ask, would have conjectured, that the unpretending, simple-looking young man, in charge of the half-dark musty place, would become the famous Frederik Muller, whose name is mentioned with so much respect at home as well as abroad? Truly, no man of his education could have begun business under more humble circumstances, and have carried on a business so little thought of as the second-hand book trade was at that time; a business with only insignificant capitals invested in it, a business, moreover, only carried on, on small stalls in the market-place at Amsterdam." At that time Muller began practically to apply the results of his bibliographical studies to the collecting and cataloguing of books, pamphlets, prints, engravings, and manuscripts. We give in a footnote at the bottom of the next page a list of his catalogues and bibliographies, and wish to direct particular attention to the "Bibliographical and Historical Essay on the Dutch Books and Pamphlets relating to New Netherland," as opening an entirely new vista to the students of the history of the state of New York; nor is the essay on Batavo-Russian bibliography of less importance for the student of the history of Russia and Poland, as it gives information of books, maps, plates, etc., formerly quite unknown. It may be truly said that from 1841 to 1876, hardly any precious collection of books was dispersed by auction in Holland, the cataloguing and selling of which was not entrusted to Muller. As the catalogues of these sales have all of them great bibliographical interest and value, the following ought to be named:-Sale Immerzeel, 1841; Hoeufft, 1844; Wiselius, 1845; Clarisse, 1847; Huet, 1847; D. J. van Lennep, 1853; Pastor van Steenwyk, 1854; Van Voorst, 1859-61; Da Costa, 1861; Ackersdyck, 1862; A. de Vries, 1864; G. and W. Vrolik, 1860 and 1865; Joh. Enschede, 1867; Almanzi, 1868; Meulman, 1869; Luzac, 1872; Bodel Nijenbuys. 1874-75; A. v. A. Willigen, 1875. Bat probably the most important work which Muller has left behind is the critical detailed description of the collection of engravings referring to the history of the Netherlands-a kind of historical Atlas-on which he was engaged for more than twenty-five years, viz.: "De Nederlandsche Geschiedenis in platen." A copious supplement to this work, the greatest part of which was prepared by the late F. Muller himself, will appear in the course of this year. The entire collection is still in the possession of the family. All his other collections Muller sold daring his lifetime, after having described them carefully and systematically-among them his collection of Netherland portraits, of the catalogue of which a considerably enlarged edition is in preparation. The first edition described about seven thousand portraits, whilst the second is expected to contain about forty thousand. One of Muller's great plans, which he did not live to see carried out, was a great Netherlands bibliography, for which he had secured the collaboration of several scholars, each eminent in his own special department. Muller reserved to himself the arrangement, final revision and preparation for the press of the manuscript. He has left the needful directions for the completion and printing of this work; and, as several divisions are already prepared, it is to be hoped that this important and much wanted bibliography will after all see the light of day. Muller was endowed with a marvellous and never-failing memory: a book, an engraving, a portrait, a map which he had once seen, he did not easily forget. His zeal in the hunting up of manuscripts, books, portraits, belonging to the golden age of the history of his native country, was extraordinary, and often met with its due reward; thus, for instance, his keen scent led him to the discovery of the original manuscript of Spinoza's Tractatus de Deo, which was edited by Dr. J. van Vloten, and became instrumental in redirecting the attention of the European public to the works of the great philosopher. He had also the good luck of disinterring a portion of the correspondence of Descartes with the Queen of Sweden, which has since been published by M. Foucher de Careil. Muller also wrote numerous articles on questions connected with literature, the book-trade and copyright. He was much interested in the welfare of the Antiquarian Society of Amsterdam, and was for several years its President. He was also the founder of the Library of the Union of the Dutch Booksellers, endowed the same very richly, and compiled its catalogue, adding to it a number of useful notes respecting the history of Dutch typography. For several years the state of his health had been bad and he was obliged to leave the entire control of the business to his partner F. Adama van Scheltema, he occupying himself only with Archaeology and Bibliography. His second wife, two sons and two daughters live to deplore his loss; the elder son is a Doctor of Law, and Archivist of the city and province of Utrecht; the second son is on the point of terminating his philological studies at the University of Leyden. Muller is succeeded in the business by his surviving partner, F. Adama van Scheltema. Catalogus (Beschrijvende) van 7000 portretten van Nederlanders en van buitenlanders, tot Nederland in betrekking staande, afkomstig uit de collectiën: de Burlett, Verstolk, Lamberts, etc. Amsterdam, 1853. 8vo. [pp. xl. and 408.] Catalogus van de bibliotheek der Vereeniging ter bevordering van de belangen des boekhandels. Amsterdam, 1855. 8vo. [pp. xiv. and 144.] Catalogus eener uiterst zeldzame verzameling van Hollandsche Bijbels, Psalmen, incunabelen, geestelijke liederen, Hollandsche godgeleerde werken der 16 en 17 eeuw. Amsterdam, 1857. 8vo. (pp. 132.] Catalogus van boeken over Nederlandsche geschiedenis en plaatsbeschrijving. (Vergezeld van eene lijst van 100 politieke tijdschriften Fan 1795-1814, etc.) Amsterdam, 1859. 8vo [pp. 148.] Essai d'une bibliographie Neêrlando-Russe. Catalogue d'une collection remarquable de livres, atlas, cartes, portraits, planches, MSS. hollandais et de plusieurs livres étrangers, tous concernan. la Russie et la Pologne. Avec des notices bibliographiques et hist., etc. Amsterdam, 1859. 8vo. [pp. viii. and 174.] Eerste Tiele (P. A.) Bibliotheek van Nederlandsche pamfletten. afdeeling: Verzameling van Fr. Muller. Naar tijdsorde gerangschikt en beschreven. (1500-1702). Amsterdam, 1858-60. 3 parts. 4to. Asher (G. M.) A bibliographical and historical essay on the Dutch What S. de Sacy, the son of the great Orientalist, said of the Brothers De Bure (Variétés littéraires, etc., vol. i. p. 243), may literally be applied to Muller. "Messrs. De Bure represented, too, the olden-time fraternity of booksellers and learned men. Their customers were their friends. They often ventured on the costly undertaking of bringing out a work of erudition, merely because of the author's name and merit, and with little hope of recouping their outlay. It was honourable to them to be the publishers of such a work; that sufficed for them. It is true that learned men, on their side, found pleasure, and felt it an honour, to have Messrs. De Bure for publishers." Also we may refer to the opinion of Mr. Otto Harrassowitz, a pupil and friend of the late F. Muller, who, in his interesting memoir of the departed, contributed by him to No. 48 of the Börsenblatt for the German book-trade, expresses himself as follows: "In this wise Muller became, through his business relations, associated with numerous friends of books, with bibliographers and scholars, and it was owing to his disposition that his commercial relations almost always expanded into friendly personal intercourse. The extent of his reading enabled him in most cases to give the desired information, and it followed as a matter of course that his advice was greatly solicited, but he was ever willing, and could never do too much in this way, no matter whether he derived from it a material advantage or not. In addition to this he displayed a great deal of literary activity; the number of articles contributed by him to Dutch periodicals amount to about eighty. They refer mostly to literary and bibliographical matters, and mainly to the question of Dutch piracies of German works. More than twenty years ago he spoke openly and uncompromisingly against the reprint of foreign works, and thereby placed himself in antagonism to a number of his colleagues. One would think that Muller as a secondhand bookseller could have had no difficulty in entering the lists as a defender of the Author's rights in the creations of his own mind. But it must not be overlooked that he was also a publisher, and that he had issued quite a respectable number of works, among which the well-known names of Cobet, Hofmann-Peerlkamp, Bleeker, Schaarschmidt, etc.. etc., are represented. His publications consisted mostly of extensive and strictly scientific works, which did not bring much profit, a fact which he did not conceal from himself. As long as a work was in preparation he took the liveliest interest in it; and some of his publications, though bearing another author's name, were to a certain extent his own labour. But the book once completed, his restless mind did not take kindly to the more technical labours of publishing. Of this he was himself very well aware, and if he published a work it was because he took a personal interest in the same. Every inch a Netherlander, no sacrifice was too great for him if he thought it due to the honour of his native country. . . . . And he took always a foremost place as a writer or speaker in matters concerning the honour of his calling, and in all questions agitating the Dutch booktrade during the last thirty years he took the most lively interest, giving in many instances the casting vote. His colleagues therefore, during his lifetime, honoured him, to a certain extent, as their spiritual head. Although his failing health compelled him during the last few years to altogether retire from public life, his influence continued to be acknowledged by his pupils; for all those who, in Holland, cultivate the second-hand book-trade in a higher sense, have come from his school directly or indirectly, and it is not his least merit to have raised that branch of the business, formerly not much thought of, into higher public esteem. To his own thoughts about this matter he makes, in the preface to his last (English) written Catalogue, the following remarks: books and pamphlets relating to New-Netherland and to the Dutch West India Company, and to its possessions in Brazil, etc, as also on the maps, charts. etc., of New-Netherland. Compiled chiefly from the collection of Mr. F. Muller. Amsterdam, 1867. 4to. [pp. lii. and 234, (3); list of maps, 22 and tab. 23] Tiele (P.A) Mémoire bibliographique sur les Journaux des navigateurs Neerlandais réimprimés dans les collections de de Bry et de Hulsius et dans les collections Holl, du 17° siècle, et sur des anciennes éditions Hollandaises des journaux de navigateurs étrangers; la plupart en la possession de F. Muller. Amsterdam, 1867. 8vo. [pp. xii and 372.] Catalogue of books, maps, plates on America, and of a remarkable collection of early voyages. Including a large number of books in all languages, with bibliographical and historical notes, etc. Amster. dam, 1872-75. 3 parts. 8vo. (pp. viii. and 288-289 to 420 and 174.] Part I.-Books with 3 facs. II.-Books (supplem.) III.-Portraits, autographs, plates, atlases, and maps. De Nederlandsche Geschiedenis in platen. Beredeneerde beschrijving van Nederlandsche Historieplaten, zinneprenten en historische Kaarten; verzameld, gerangschikt en beschreven door F Muller. Vol. I. (Jaren 100 CHR.-1702), Amsterdam, 1863-1870. Vol. II. (1702-1795), Ibid. 1876. Vol. III. (1795-1879), Ibid. 1879. |