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CARTHEUSER, Friedrich August.

(1734 – 1796)

(Born: Halle, Germany, 1734; Died: Schierstein, Germany, 12 December 1796) German geologist & mineralogist.

Son of the German physician and apothecary, Johann Freidrich Cartheuser [1704-1777], Friedrich August was trained in the medical profession, but devoted himself to natural history and especially mineralogy and geology. Between 1754-66, he was a Docent in mineralogy, botany and chemistry at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder. Then he was named professor of natural studies at the University of Giessen. He became an advisor on mining and geological matters to the government.

Biographical references: ADB. Baur, Allgemeines historisches Handwörterbuch, 1803. DBA: I 181, 326-351; II 217, 335. Hamberger & Meusel, Gelehrte Teutschland, 1796-1834. Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 75. Meusel, Verstorbenen Teutschen Schrifsteller, 1802-16. Poggendorff: 1, col. 385. WBI.

1. Latin, 1755.
Elementa | Mineralogiae | Systematice Disposita | A | Friederico Augusto | Cartheuser | Med. Doct. | [ornament] | [ornate rule] | Francofurti | Ad Viadrum. | Impensis Pauli Sigismundi Gaebler, | An. cI[Backwards c] I[Backwards c]C LV.

8°: )(8 A-G8; 64l.; [16], [1]-104, [8] p. Ornaments on the title and at the head of the text.

Very rare. Dedicated to J.F. Cartheuser and Johann Gottlieb Cleditsch, this work describes the basis of Cartheuser's system of classification in mineralogy. It was innovative and influential for its time in separating the petrifications and figured stones into a separate class of object away from true minerals. The system described contained the seven principle divisions of (1) Terræ, which separated those substances that could be dissolved in water and those that could not, (2) Lapides, (3) Salia, including alkali and acid, (4) Inflammabilia, (5) Semimetalla, (6) Metalla, and (7) Heteromorpha, containing petrifications, fossils and figured stones.

Bibliographical references: Beekman, Systematische Mineralogie, 1906: 36. BL [B.252.(1.)]. BMC: 1, 321. Comm. Scientia Natur.: 4, 545. Ferguson, Bibliotheca Chemica, 1906: 1, 146. Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 27. Kobell, Geschichte der Mineralogie, 1864: p. 156. LKG: XII 47. NUC: 97, 242-3. Schröter's Journal für die Liebhaber: 2, 47. Vogel's Neue Medicinische Bibliothek: 2, 349. Wallerius, Brevis Introductio, 1779: 84.

2. Latin, 1755.
Friederici Avgvsti Carthevser, | [...3 lines of titles and memberships...] | Rvdimenta | Oryctographiae | Viadrino- | Francofvrtanae. | [ornament] | [rule] | Francofvrti Ad Viadrvm, | apvd Iohannem Christianvm Kleyb. | 1755.

8°: [12], 78, [6] p.

Rare. Rvdimenta Oryctographiæ Viadrino - Francofvrtanæ presents an account of the minerals to be found in the area surrounding Frankfurt-an-der-Oder in Germany. The author was an avid mineralogist, and spent much time wondering the district in search of mineralogical wonders, which he describes within this volume.

Bibliographical references: BL [953.a.17.(4.)]. Dryander, Catalogus Banks, 1796-1800: 4, p. 57. LKG: XIV 195.

Mineralogische Abhandlungen, 1771

3. German, 1771-3.
Mineralogische | Abhandlungen | [rule] | Von | Friedrich August Cartheuser, | Hochfürstl. Hessischen Bergrath und Professor | zu Giessen. | [vignette] | Giessen, | bei Johann Philipp Krieger, Universitäts=Buchhändler | 1771.

2 parts. [Part 1: 1771] 8°: [4], [1]-243, [1] p. [Part 2: 1773] 8°: 120 p. Page size: 170 x 96 mm.

Contents: [Part 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], "Vorrede."-signed Friedrich August Cartheuser, 26 August 1771.; [1]-243, Text.; [1 pg], "Inhalt."

[Part 2] No copy examined.

Rare. Cartheuser's Mineralogische Abhandlungen presents his ideas on mineralogical science. The work was intended as a textbook for an advanced level class in the study, and gives many philosophical arguments as to the nature of minerals in general.

Contents: I. Vom Traß (pp. 1-53). II. Von den Bestandtheilien der gypsartigen Steine und Erden (pp. 54-88). III. Von dem Gestein, welches die Dornen der Gradirhäuser überzieht (pp. 89-101). IV. Einige Anmerckungen vom Arsenic (pp. 102-127). V. Vom Bimstein (pp. 128-150). VI. Von den Bestandtheilen des Thons (pp. 151-219). VII. Von der Alaunerde (pp. 220-243).

Bibliographical references: Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek: 21, 574 ["Sehr gut und lehrreiche"]. BL [990.c.20.]. Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 2, 285. LKG: VI 50. NUC: 97, 242-3. Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 1159. Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 427.

4. Latin, 1777 [Dissertation].
Facultatis Medicae Decanus D. F. A. Cartheuser ... Ioannis Ludovici Christiani Schmidt ... sollemnia inauguralia indicit, simulque de quibusdam vinorum adulterationibus sanitati noxiis quae additamentis mineralibus peraguntur breviter disserit. [Gissae Hassorum] Typis Joan. Jacobi Braunii [1777].

4°: A-B4; 8l.; [1]-16 p.

Rare. A program dissertation, which besides some minor mineralogical interest, includes a life of Georgius Bartramus Timmermann [1745-     ].

Bibliographical references: BL [7306.f.11.(24.)]. Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9.

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