Description

Title: Betrachtung über den Menschen. (Contemplation of Man). Author: Peter Kaufmann. Language: German. Publisher: Conrad Zentler, Philadelphia. Publication Date: 1823; First Edition. Format: hardcover; full leather; gilt banding and titles on spine. Length: 244 pages Size: approximately 4 1/2" by 7 1/4" Description: A rare work by a noted German-American social progressive and participant in early 19th Century Utopian societies. The following excerpt is from Robert E. Cazden’s 1975 article on the German book trade published in Ohio History Journal: “Peter Kaufmann was born in Munster-Mayfeld in 1800 of a French mother and a German father, by profession a cavalry officer. After leaving the Gymnasium at Coburg, the young man spent two years at the University of Berlin where presumably he was first exposed to Hegelian philosophy. By 1820 Kaufmann was in Philadelphia and became part owner of a tobacconist's shop. The business shortly failed and Kaufmann moved from Philadelphia to Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1823 he published his first book in Latin entitled Elogium Petri Magni, Russorum Imperatoris, no copy of which is known. In the same year he completed his ministerial studies. Although he was never ordained, he retained a lifelong penchant for speculative philosophy, first manifested in a German work, Betrachtung uber den Menschen, that Conrad Zentler of Philadelphia published in 1823 and reprinted in 1824 and 1825. This youthful treatise ... is written in the spirit of Christian perfectionism, which led Kaufmann quite naturally down the road of social reform. We know that Kaufmann and Robert Smith opened this country's first Labour-for-Labour store in Philadelphia early in 1824. ... Seeking new experiences, Kaufmann in 1826 joined the Rappists at Economy, Pennsylvania as a teacher of languages, and his short tenure there inspired him to lead a small group of Germans into Ohio to found their own community. This communist colony was built in Petersburg, Columbiana County by the Society of United Germans at Teutonia and its constitution was drawn up by Kaufmann, Solomon Sala, and Michael Lenz.” Condition: The hinges are broken, although the boards remain attached, although barely. The cover is rubbed and bumped. Ink stain along the lower page edges. Pages are toned and foxed. A few pages have corner creases. Former owner’s name (Elizabeth Lynn) on first front-facing endpaper, along with the date of 1824.