Search Results: 18th Century Diary from Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.

HOLLAND THE NETHERLANDS GERMANY. Very Good. 1739. Leather Spine. On offer is a superb, original historical early 18th Century travel journal of three [3] Dutch men, Daniel van Alphen, P. van Dorp and the writer of the journal Hendrik van Alphen (1708-1764) who travel from Holland to Germany from April 9th 1739 through late summer. Hendrik is listed on Dutch genealogical sites as a 'koopman' or in English a merchant and given the many references that include numbers the approximately 8 x 10 inch very full 133 hand numbered page book is unlike diaries there is little detail of the daily doings but rather Hendrik described landscape and the community, where they were, how long the journey from one city to another city took and why in some cases the trip took longer than planned. The influence of Daniel van Alphen, whom was probably a registrar during the journey, is very clear in the journal. On every location that the authors arrived a specific attention is paid to the religious… Read More

NAPLES ITALY. Good+. 1744. Original Vellum. On offer is a super manuscript relic of 18th Century religious devotion being a vellum covered notebook titled 'Memoria' handwritten by Carlo Antonio Di Cesare, a Jesuit in Naples between 1744 and 1764. Superbly intimate look into the life of this Catholic man using the book as a 'vade mecum' or catchall thusly a diary of notes detailing the life of this Jesuit scholar: it begins with his graduation into the Congregazione de' studenti sotto la protezzione dell'Annunciata of the Jesuit College Gesù Vecchio in Naples to study 'Logic' under Professore Giuseppe Guidone. On 24 November 1744, he passes his exam Confessione generale di tutta la vita and joins a Rosicrucian Brotherhood. What follows are his notes comprised of various lists: financials such as receipts and expenditures; what appears to be an inventory of a Library "Nota de' libri che tengo in Napoli 30. lugl. 1749" [or a reading… Read More

Toulon, France. Good. 1745. Hardcover. On offer is a stunning look into the the mind, finances and economy of Rudelle Dalzon a landlord, caterer and food supplier in pre Revolutionary France on the French Riviera. Many layered, very thick, elephant folio list many, many hundreds of transactions for rents, properties listed, supplies purchased, traded, sums loaned and paid plus many pieces of ephemera stuffed inside. Unpaginated, in original boards on thick paper there are at least 200 pages at two inches thick. Rudelle begins in 1745 and writes well into 1780s. There are at least two businesses running and ancilliary loans with corresponding notes. Mentions of trade with members of the King's staff. Many years of research in this ancient ledger. Rudelle diarizes his thoughts regarding most years in a special middle section of the book. Truly fascinating pre-Revolution manuscript and a delight for historians of the French Riviera. This journal boasts a very discreet Ex Libris HPK label… Read More

STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT. Good+. 1786. On offer is a super, original, naïve 18th Century manuscript diary handwritten by James Blakeman [sometimes Blackman] of Stratford Connecticut and as inscribed on the title page: "My Journal for the year 1786 James Blakeman's Journal for the year 1786" a 4 x 6¼ inch 13 page monthly account [one title page and then one month to a page] of besides his numerous farming activities including cutting, carting, plowing, making cider, mending fences, transporting hay, flax+++ he tells much local history in his direct, terse notes: "I was at Fairfield on the jury. Came home, dressed flax. I went to sawmill. I was abord the Brig Lucretia and saw Brig to Millford. I went to Ripton." And much, much more. One page has been creases on the edge but overall G+. ; Manuscript; 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, JAMES BLAKEMAN, BLACKMAN, CURTISS-CURTIS FAMILY, STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, 18TH CENTURY, RURAL LIFE,… Read More

THE POULTRY, LONDON, ENGLAND, UK: CHARLES DILLY. Good. 1788. On offer is an original, hardcover handprinted book from 1788, regarding the Natural Science of Mineralogy (the scientific study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts). The book comes at the end of the Scientific Revolution in the Western World, roughly from 1600-1800 and is a translation of a book written by Baron Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, the famous Swedish mineralogist and chemist who discovered nickel in 1751 and is regarded as one of the founders of modern mineralogy. The title page reads like many in the 17th and 18th century, long and with much information: “An ESSAY Towards A SYSTEM OF MINERALOGY By AXEL FREDERIC CRONSTEDT, Mine-Master Or Superintendent Of Mines In Sweden. Translated From The Original Swedish, With Annotations, And An Additional Treatise On The Blow-Pipe. By GUSTAV VON ENGESTROM, Counsellor Of The College Of Mines In Sweden. THE SECOND EDITION,… Read More

MANCHESTER LANCASHIRE UK AFRICA EGYPT. Poor. 1796. On offer is the original handwritten manuscript "Voyages and Travels of Richard Renshaw" of the British Army's heralded Royal Regiment of Artillery, Renshaw of the 4th Battalion. Some parts of this manuscript were later published as 'VOYAGE TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE' in 1804. Renshaw retells in detail and with a keen observer's eye the story of his service for Great Britain. He is an educated man who writes insightful and sometimes rollicking accounts of his and the group's adventures. He describes everything he sees through Africa and into Egypt as part of Admiral Nelson's fleet and the ill-fated, elderly Scot, Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby being part of "war reserved for the British nation to annihilate their [Napoleon and the French] ambitious designs their fleet was attacked, defeated and destroyed in Aboukir…" An absolutely incredible first hand account of this robust man's… Read More

NEW FRANKFURT, HARRISON CO. WEST VIRGINIA, 1797. On offer is are two lovely and fascinating letters from a father and mother to their daughter detailing their situation mere weeks after moving to New Frankford, Virginia. The letter is signed “Moses Starr and Elizabeth Starr” and addressed to their “Dear Daughter.” The first letter is dated November 17th, 1797 and the second is dated December 23, 1797. In the letters, they describe their journey to their new home in West Virginia, their home and their farm. They now live in “New Frankfurt,” in “Harrison County, Simpsons Creek, Eight Miles From Clarkburg.” The first letter begins, “Dear Daughter, we embrace this opportunity to wright to you informing thee that we are all in great haealth at present thanks bea to God for his tender Merceys to us ward, from time to time.” They write that they have “we have had no letters from thee this two years...and have had no opertunity to send any.” “We… Read More

CHICAGO ILLINOIS, IL. Good. 1895. On offer is a fantastic group of notebook journals that belonged to Horace R. Hobart. Hobart led a long and illustrious life in newspapers, gazettes, and magazines. Born in 1839 he was a Wisconsin Cavalry Quartermaster in the Civil War starting in 1861 until being wounded in Arkansas. Beginning in 1866 he wrote for the Chicago Tribune as a reporter than was Editor of Chicago Evening Post (1867-1870), Co-founder of the Chicago Evening Mail (1871-1873), Editor of Chicago Evening Post (1873) again, editor and 1/2 owner of Daily Journal in Jacksonville, IL (1874-1875), editor of the Chicago Morning Courier (1875) and finally, one of the Founding Editor of Railway Age (1875 onwards), which continues to be published to this very day. The notebooks range from the year 1895 - 1912. Many entries are related to expenses including other personal expenses when in Chicago (Hyde Park) and Evanston, IL, plus personal notes regarding the train trips, his house… Read More