LENZ, Johann Georg.
(1748 – 1832)
Lenz went to the University of Jena in 1765, receiving his Doctor of Philosophy and Theology in 1770. He became a private docent with in the faculty of the department of philosophy. He continued to pursue theological studies for a time, but eventually he became interested in scientific studies, especially mineralogy. The study of minerals suited Lenz, and the newly invented system of A.G. Werner, opened new worlds of discovery for him. Lenz choose to pursue a career in the field, and consequently, he was made a professor of mining and mineralogy at the University of Jena. When the University acquired J.E.I. Walch's mineral collection, Lenz was made its curator. Lenz was a founding member and driving force behind the Söcietät für die gesammte Mineralogie in Jena, which was the first society devoted to exclusively to mineralogical studies. A mineral collection he assembled for his own studies was purchased in 1799 by the Dutchman Marinus van Marum [1750-1837] and eventually incorporated into Teyler's Museum in Haarlem.
Biographical references: ADB: 18, 276-7. • Csiky, G., "The role of Hungarian naturalists in the establishment and operation of the `Mineralogische Söciete' in Jena, including its influence on the development of the earth sciences in Hungary" (pp. 423-40), in: Vitális and Kecskeméki, eds., Museums and Collections in the History of Mineralogy, Geology and Paleontology in Hungary. Budapest, 1991. • DBA: I 754, 201-213; II 803, 99. • Günther, Lebensskizzen der Professoren, 1858. • Hamberger & Meusel, Gelehrte Teutschland, 1796-1834. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 258. • Linck, G., Goethes Verhältnis zur Mineralogie und Geognosie. Rede gehalten zur Feier der akademischen Preisverteilung am 16. Juni 1906. Jena, Fischer, 1906. 4°: 48 p., one plate (portraits of Goethe and Lenz), one facsimile letter between Goethe and Lenz.. • Neue Nekrolog der Deutschen: 10 Jahrgang, 127. • Poggendorff: 1, cols. 1423-4. • Salomon, Sozietät für Mineralogie zu Jena, 1990. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 3, 1552. • WBI. • Wilson, History of Mineral Collecting, 1994. • Wilson, W.E., "Johann Georg Lenz and his Mustertafeln 1794", Mineralogical Record, 27, (1996), no. 3, 191-5, portrait, biblio.
1. German, 1780.
Tabellen über die Versteinerungen. Jena, 1780.
8°: Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: BL [B.368.(2.)]. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 344. • LKG: XVII 59.
2. German, 1781.
Tabellen | Über | Das Gesamte | Steinreich | Entworfen | Von | Johann Georg Lenz, [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornament] | [rule] | Jena | bey Joh. Rudolph Croeckers seel. Wittwe. | 1781.
8°: [4] p., 27 tables (on double leaves).
Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [4 pgs], Dedication to Professoren Loder, signed Johann Georg Lenz, 6 May 1781.; [2 pgs], "Vorrede."; 27 Tabllen.
Very rare. We learn from the foreword that Lenz prepared these tables for sketching out the properties of the mineral kingdom to help reinforce his own understanding of the properties of the species.
Bibliographical references: BL [B.372.(1.)]. • BMC: 3, 1090. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 28. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56-7. • LKG: XII 87. • NUC: 326, 614 [NL 0258878].
3. Latin, 1788 [Dissertation].
Diss. mineralogica de venarum metalliferarum orgine, quam-def. J.G. Lenz. Jenæ, 1788.
8°:
Very scarce. Dissertation-Johann Georg Lenz, respondent?
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • LKG: XIII 180.
4. German, 1791 [First edition].
Mineralogisches Handbuch, durch weitere Ausführung des Wernerschen Systems, geliefert von M. Johann Georg Lenz ... Hildburghausen: Bey Johann Gottfried Hanisch, 1791.
8°: xxviii, 314, [10] p. Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek: 111, no. 2, 475. • Beekman, Systematische Mineralogie, 1906: 81. • BL [726.f.6.]. • BMC: 3, 1090. • CBN: 94, col. 1086. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 54. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56-7. • LKG: XII 88a. • NUC: 742, 490 [NSL 0018799]. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 109.
5. German, 1796 [2nd edition].
Mineralogisches | Handbuch | durch | weitere Ausführung | des | Wernerschen Systems | von | Iohann Georg Lenz | [...6 lines of titles and memberships...] | [rule] | Zweyte durchaus verbesserte und vermehrte Auflage. | [rule] | Hildburghausen, 1796. | bey Iohann Gottfried Hanisch.
8°: a-c8 A-2F8 *3; 283l.; {i}-xxxxviii, [1]-460, [I]-LVI, [2] p. Page size: 200 x 115 mm. Very scarce.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii], Dedication.; [iv], Blank.; [v]-viii, "Vorrede | zur ersten Auflage."-dated May 1791.; [ix]-xvi, "Vorrede | zur zweyten Auflage."-dated September 1796.; [xvii], Sectional title page, "Tabellarische Uebersicht | der | mineralogisch=einfachen | Mineralien | nebst | beygesetzten | deutschen trivialen Namen."; [xviii], Blank.; [xix]-xxxxviii, Tables.; [1], "Der | mineralogisch-einfachen | Mineralien | Erste Klasse. | Erd- und Steinarten."; [2], Blank.; [3]-460, Text.; [I]-XXXIV, "Anhang II. | Tabellarische Uebersicht | der | mineralogisch-einfachen | Mineralien | nach ihren | vorwaltenden Bestandtheilen."; [XXXV]-LVI, "Register."; [2 pgs], "Zusätze und Verbesserungen."
Bibliographical references: BL [726.f.7. (gives 1786 as year)]. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 54 [gives 1797 as the year]. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • Hoover Collection: no. 522. • LKG: XII 88a. • NUC: 326, 614 [NL 0258874]. • Selmeci Müemlékkönyvtár Kötetkatalógusa: 84, no. 445.
6. German, 1793.
Grundriß | der | Mineralogie, | nach | dem neuesten | Wernerschen System, | zum Gebrauch | bey Vorlesungen auf Akademien und Schulen, | herausgegeben | von | D. Johann Georg Lenz, | [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | [ornate rule] | [ornate rule] | Hildburghausen, 1793. | bey Johann Gottfried Hanisch.
8°: [i]-xxviii, [1]-314, [10] p. Page size: 195 x 115 mm.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii], Dedication to D. Heinrich Stephani.; [iv], Blank.; [v]-[vi], "Vorrede"-dated 20 March 1793.; [vii]-xxviii, "Werners | Mineralsystem."; [1]-314, Text.; [9 pgs], "Register."; [1 pg], "Druckfehler," starting on previous page and carried over.
Very scarce. This is a reissue of the text of Mineralogisches Handbuch (Hildburghausen, 1791), together with a new title page and preliminaries. Lenz was a strong advocate of Werner's doctrines and his Handbuch, i.e. Grundriß, is one his more elaborate expositions. The author makes frequent reference to other mineralogists, including Gerhard, Gmelin, Achard, Kirwan, Wallerius and Cronstedt. Lenz also provides synonyms, references to the relavant literature, and detailed notes for each mineral described.
Bibliographical references: BL [974.b.19.]. • BMC: 3, 1090. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • LKG: XII 89b. • NUC: 326, 614 [NL 0258873: gives pagination: xxxx, 192 p.].
7. German, 1794.
Mustertafeln | der | bis jetzt bekannten | Einfachen Mineralien | worauf dieselben nach ihren Gestalten und natürlichen | Farben abgebildet, und ihre übrigen Verhältnisse | gegen einander bestimmt werden | von | D. Johann Georg Lenz | Sr. Herzogl. Durchlaucht zu Sachsen-Weimar und Eisenach | Sekretär. | [rule] | Jena, | auf Kosten des Verfassers. | 1794.
8°: [8], [1]-111, [1] p., 400 watercolor illustrations of minerals.
Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], Dedication to Mrs Annen Amalien.; [2 pgs], "Vorrede."; [2 pgs], "Verzeichniss der Pränumeraten und Subscribenten."; [1], "Mustertafeln."; 2-111, Text of tables.; [1 pg], Gedruckt mit Göpferdtschen Schriften."
Very rare. Based on Wernerian principals, Mustertafeln uses the physical qualities of minerals to create an elaborate, early field guide to mineral determination. In the forward, Lenz states that these "Mustertafeln" or specimen tables are intended to help friends of mineralogy become acquainted with the simple minerals. This book is admirable for that purpose as it consists of tables divided into color, external form, break or facture, transparency and lusture, hardness and finally the name of the mineral. Unique to this work are the four hundred water color drawings of minerals that are placed in the color column. These figures, each about one by one inch, are all rendered with quality and exactness as they were modeled from specimens contained in Carl August's [see note below] mineral collection. This volume is undoubtedly one of the rarest colored mineralogies. In the forward, Lenz laments that due to the high cost of production, only as many examples will be published as there are subscribers. This list is included in the volume and includes the names of Goethe, von Trebra, and Bertuch. But based on Lenz's statement, one can assume that the 26 copies purchased by the subscribers are all that were ever produced.
Facsimile reprint, 1996: Mustertafeln der bis jetzt bekannten einfachen Mineralien ... Tucson, Arizona, The Mineralogical Record, 1996.
Carl August. (Born: 1757; Died: 1828) German monarch. Born the eldest son of Ernst August Constantine [??-1758] and Anna Amalia [1739-1807], Carl became Duke of Saxe-Weimar at the age of one year when his father died. He attained the title of Grand Duke in 1815. His mother, who acted as his Regent until he came of age in 1775, had a profound influence upon her son. It was through her guidance that Carl developed an early interest in literature. art and science. Through friendships with Goethe and Lenz, he eventually became a mineral enthusiast, and consequently founded in 1779 the mineral collection at the University of Jena with the purchase of Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch's mineral and fossil collection.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • BMC: 3, 1090. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • LKG: XII 91d. • NUC: 326, 624 [NL 0258876]. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 1365. • Wilson, W.E., "Johann Georg Lenz and his Mustertafeln 1794", Mineralogical Record, 27, (1996), no. 3, 191-5, portrait, biblio: 27 (1996), no. 3, 191-5, portrait, biblio. (August) Carl August-Bibliographie. Jena, 1933, 280 p. • Carl August, Herzog von Sachsen-Weimar, Briefe des Herzogs an seine Mutter die Herzogin Anna Amalia. Oktober 1774 bis Januar 1807. Jena, 1938, 221 p. • Egloffstein, H.Frhr.v., Carl August auf dem Wiener Kongreß. Zur Jahrhundertfeier des Bestehens des Großherzogtums Sachsen-Weimar, Eisenach, Fischer, 1915, 199 p., one portrait. • Wilson, W.E., "Johann Georg Lenz and his Mustertafeln 1794," Mineralogical Record, 27 (1996), no. 3, 191-5, portrait, biblio.
8. German, 1794-5.
Versuch | einer vollständigen Anleitung | zur | Kenntniss | der | Mineralien | von | D. Johann Georg Lenz | [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | [rule] | Erster Theil | Erd- und Steinarten, Salze, ölige mineralische | Körper und Versteinerungen. | [tapered rule] | Leipzig 1794. | bey Siegfried Lebrecht Crusius.
2 vols. [Vol 1: 1794] 8°: [26], [1]-640, [20] p.; [Vol 2: 1795] 8°: [12], [1]-428, [14] p. Page size: 192 x 120 mm.
Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [12 pgs], Dedictation to multiple people, signed Johann Georg Lenz, 23 April 1794.; [10 pgs], "Vorrede."-dated April 1794.; [1 pg], Sectional title page, "Erster Theil. | Erd- und Steinarten, Salze, | ölige mineralische Körper udn | Versteinerungen."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-640, Text.; [18], "Register."; [2 pgs], "Zusätze und verbesserungen."
[Vol 2] [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [4 pgs], "Vorrede."-dated October 1794.; [6 pgs], "Einleitung | in | die Metalle."; [1]-420, Text.; [10 pgs], "Register."; [2 pgs], "Anhang."; [1 pg], "Verbesserungen."; [1 pg], Blank.
Rare. This is the descriptive work refered to in Lenz' very rare "Mustertafeln" (Jena, 1794). The individual illustrations of the Mustertafeln are correspondingly numbered to descriptions in Lenz' "Versuch einer vollständigen Anleitungen". In this work volume one (1794) describes the earth's, stones, salts, organic minerals and petrifications. Volume 2 (1795) covers the metals and petrology.
Contents: 1. Erd- und Steinarten, Salze, ölige mineralische Körper und Versteinerungen; 2. Metalle und Gebirgsarten.
Bibliographical references: Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung: May 1795, 337 & August 1795, 405. • BL [953.d.8.]. • BMC: 3, 1090. • CBN: 94, col. 1087. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 345. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 30. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56-7. • LKG: XII 90c. • Neue Allgemeine deutsche Bibliothek: 16, no. 2, 465. • NUC: 326, 614 [NL 0258880].
9. German, 1798-9.
Mineralogisches | Taschenbuch | für | Anfänger und Liebhaber. | Entworfen | von | Johann Georg Lenz, | [...10 lines of titles and memberships...] | Erstes Bändchen. | Die mineralogisch=einfachen Mineralien. | [rule] | Erfurt, 1798. | in der Henningschen Buchhandlung.
Mineralogisches | ... | Zweytes Bändchen. | Die Metalle. | [rule] | Erfurt, 1799. | in der Henningschen Buchhandlung.
2 vols. [Vol 1: 1798] 8°: [Vol 2: 1799] 8°: Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: BL [445.a.27.]. • CBN: 94, col. 1087. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 55. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56-7. • LKG: XII 92e. • NUC: 326, 614 [NL 0258875].
10. German, 1800 [First edition].
System | der | äusseren Kennzeichen | der | Mineralien, | in | deutscher, lateinischer, italienischer, französi- | scher, dänischer und ungarischer Sprache. | mit | erläuternden Anmerkungen. | [tapered rule] | von | Johann GeorgLenz, | [...11 lines of titles and memberships...] | [tapered rule] | Bamberg und Würzburg, | bey Tobias Göbhard sel. Wittib. | 1800.
Tabellarische Uebersicht | der | mineralogisch - einfachen | Mineralien.
8°: A-I8 K3 *-****8; 91l.; [1]-150, [1]-32 p., tables. Page size: 186 x 110 mm.
Contents: [1-2], Title page, verso blank.; [3]-150, Text.; [1], Sectional title page.; 2-32, Text consisting of tables of mineral names arranged under standard headings.
Very scarce. This work is divided into two distinct parts, which perhaps indicates that the second portion was issued separately. The first part lists the external characteristics used in Wernerian doctrine to determine the species of a mineral. Under each property, the equivalent names of the property in Latin, Italian, French, Danish and Hungarian are also listed. For example, the first external character listed is "Die Farbe." Underneath this property are listed color (Latin), il color (Italian), la couleur (French), Farven (Danish) and à Szin (Hungarian). At that time, this work would have been useful as a translation dictionary for studying the proliferation of mineralogical literature published in langauges other than German.
After page 150, with its own sectional title page is the second part of the work. This portion provides a tabular overview of the mineralogical basics for the species. The headings of the columns are "Klassen," "Geschlechter," "Gattungen" and "Arten," with individual species names listed under the appropiate heading.
Bibliographical references: BL [726.f.9.]. • CBN: 94, col. 1087. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • Hoover Collection: no. 523. • LKG: IX 25 & XII 93f. • NUC: 326, 614 [NL 0258877]. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 1366.
11. German, 1800 [First edition].
System | der | Mineralkörper, | mit | Benutzung der neuesten Entdeckungen. | [tapered rule] | von | Johann Georg Lenz, | [...11 lines of titles and memberships...] | [tapered rule] | Bamberg und Würzburg, | bey Tobias Gö'hard sel. Wittib. | 1800.
8°: [4], iv, xvi, 582, [8] p.
Very scarce. This book continues Lenz' system of mineralogy, but includes the latest discoveries in mineralogy, especially concerning the chemical compostion of minerals.
Bibliographical references: BL [726.f.8.]. • CBN: 94, col. 1087. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 346. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • LKG: XII 93f.
12. German, 1809 [2nd edition].
System der Mineralkörper mit Benutzung der neusten Entdeckungen. Bamberg und Würzburg: Tobias Göbhard, 1809.
8°. Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • LKG: XII 95h.
Annalen der Söcietät für die gesamte Mineralogie. Herausgegeben von Johann Gottlob Lenz und Johann Friedrich Heinrich Schwabe. (Jena & Leipzig, 1802).Schriften der Herzoglichen Societät für die gesammte Mineralogie zu Jena. Herausgegeben von Johann Georg Lenz. (Jena, 1804-6).
Neue Schriften der Grossherzoglich S. Societät für die gesammte Mineralogie in Jena. Herausgegeben von D. Johann Georg Lenz ... und D. Johann Friedrich Heinrich Schwabe. (Neustadt an der Oder, 1806-25).
See under: Jena, Germany. Societät Für Die Gesammte Mineralogie.
13. German, 1806.
Tabellen über das gesammte Mineralreich, mit Rücksicht auf die neuesten Entdeckungen und mit einigen erläuteruden Anmerkungen, herausgegeben von Johann Georg Lenz. Jena, Bei Göpferdt, 1806.
2°:
Very scarce. These tables, which were written in conjunction with the author's mineralogical lectures, decay into three principal divisions. The first handles the external characters, the second the simple minerals, and the third the various types of rock.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • CBN: 94, col. 1087. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • Leonard's Taschenbuch: 1 (1807), 326-30. • LKG: XII 94g. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 284.
14. German, 1813.
Erkenntnisslehre | der | anorganischen | Naturkörper. | [tapered rule] | Mit Hinsicht auf die neuesten Entdeckungen und Be- | richtigungen, und mit sleter [??] Anwendung auf das | bürgerliche Leben. | [tapered rule] | Für den Selbstunterricht bearbeitet | nebst | einem Versuche | zu einer | vergleichenden Mineralogie | von | Dr. Johann Georg Lenz, | [...4 lines of titles and memberships...] | Erster Band. | und | zweyten Bandes erster Abschnitt. | [tapered rule] | Giessen in Hessen | bey Gottgetreu Müller | 1813.
2 vols. [Vol 1] 8°: [Vol 2] 8°: Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • BMC: 3, 1090. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56.
15. German, 1819-22.
Handbuch der Mineralogie. Giessen, C.G. Müller, 1819-22.
4 parts in 6 vols. 8°.
Very scarce. The Handbuch der Mineralogie appears to be a series consisting of the following titles: Darstellung der sämmtlund Erd- und Steinarten, mit Angabe ihrer Fundörter, physischen und chemischen Kennzeichen und Prüungsarten und eren technischen Verwandung (2 vols., Giessen, 1819), Die Metalle. Ein Handbuch für Freunde der Mineralogie (4 parts in 2 volumes, Giessen, 1819-20), Die Gebürgsarten (Giessen, 1820) and Handbuch der vergleichenden Mineralogie (2 vols., Giessen, 1819-20).
It is not clear that all the works were published and in the case of the last, only the first volume can be traced [see entry below].
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • CBN: 94, col. 1086. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 347. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 70.
16. German, 1820.
Versuch | einer | Vergleichenden Mineralogie | für | Anfänger und Freunde des Studiums der anorangischen Natur | von | Dr. Johann Georg Lenz, | [...17 lines of titles and memberships...] | [tapered rule] | Erster Band.| [ornate rule] | Giessen, bey C.G. Müller | 1820.
8°: Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • LKG: XII 90c.
17. German, 1822.
Handbuch der vergleichenden Mineralogie. Ein tabellarisches Hilfsbuch zur alsbaldigen Auffindung und Bestimmung der Mineralien. Erste Band. Giessen: C.G. Müller, 1822.
4°:
Very scarce. No more published.
Bibliographical references: CBN: 94, col. 1086. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 76. • GV (1700-1910): 87, 56. • L'Espirit des Journal [no copy listed]. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 267.
18. German, 1800.
Tabellarische Uebersicht | der | mineralogisch - einfachen | Mineralien.
4°: 32 p. Very scarce.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed].
19. German, 1780.
Tabellen über die Versteinerungen zum ersten Unterricht. Jena, 1780.
4°: [16] p., 15 tables.
Very scarce. First edition. Paleontology?
Bibliographical references: Beekman, Systematische Mineralogie, 1906: p. 81. • BL [B.368.(2.)]. • Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782: 2,. • Fischer, Mineralogie in Sachsen, 1939: p. 311. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: p. 258.
20. German, 1789.
Kurze Abhandlung vom Basalte, vorzuglich dessen Ursprung betreffend. Jena, 1789.
8°:
Very scarce. Basalt.
Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • LKG: XVI 116. • NUC [no copy listed].
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