(Born: Augsburg, Germany, 17 October 1758; Died: Augsburg, Germany, 12 December 1811) German theologian.

Biographical references: DBA: I 1371, 240-244. • Hamberger & Meusel, Gelehrte Teutschland, 1796-1834. • WBI.

1. German, 1824-8 [First edition].
[Engraved title page, contained with in a double rule box:] Unterhaltungen | aus der Naturgeschichte. | [vignette] | Des Mineralreichs | [rule] | I^ter Band. | [rule] | Augsburg | bey Martin Engelbrecht 1824.

2 vols. [Vol 1: 1824] 8°: π¹ 1⁸ A-Sss⁴ Ttt-Oooo⁸; 417l.; [2], [i]-xvi, [1]-786 (i.e., 816) p., engraved title page, plates I-LXIV (all hand-colored, except V-VI, VIII-XII). Page 592 is misnumbered 562, with the mistake carried on for the next 30 pages. [Vol 2: 1828] 8°: π⁸ +⁸ A-Yyy⁴ Zzz-Aaaaa⁸ Bbbbb²; 490l.; [2], [i]-xxx, [1]-958 (i.e., 948) p., engraved title page (showing a bust of Wilhelm), plates I-LXVIII (all hand-colored). Among numerous page number errors is page 737 being misnumbered 747, with the mistake carried on for the next 10 pages. Other pagination errors do not change the total page count.

Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Engraved title page, verso blank; [i]-x, "Vorrede."; xi, "Berichtigungen."; xii-xvi, "Uebersicht | der | Abschnitte und Kapitel | des | ersten Bandes der Unterhaltungen aus der | Naturgeschichte des Mineralreiches."; [1]-786 (i.e., 816), Text.; [At end], Plates I-LXIV.

[Vol 2] [2 pgs], Engraved title page, verso blank; [i-ii], "Anzeige."; [iii]-xiv, "Vorwort."; [xv]-xxx, "Uebersicht | der | Abschnitte und Kapittel | des | zweiten Bandes 1sten und 2ten Abtheilung | der | Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte | des Mineralreichs."; [1]-958 (i.e., 948), Text.; [At end], Plates I-LXVIII.

Rare. Published as the concluding section of the well-known German natural history work, Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte, which described and illustratred every aspect of nature. Wilhelm, who wrote the accompanying text, based his information on the writings of the famous German mineralogist Werner. After an introduction that explains what the science of mineralogy is about, volume one describes oryctognosie, external characteristics of minerals, crystal morphology, the different forms of minerals, transparency, hardness, etc. This is followed by a lengthy section describing geognosie along Wernerian theories. Volume two in its introduction describes the systematics of mineral classification and the practical aspects of collecting minerals. The remaining portion of the book is devoted to a descriptive mineralogy arranged in a very strange manner. However, Wilhelm's work is almost always sought today for the many quaint, hand-colored plates it contains that show minerals, fossils, geologic phenomena, laboratory apparatus and scenic views. The quality of the illustrations and tone of the writing would indicate that this work was intended for youthful readers, interested in learning about the natural sciences, but it is not recorded in any standard bibliography of children's literature.

The detailed collation and pagination for this rare first edition was provided by Leslie M. Overstreet, Curator of Rare Books, Smithsonian Libraries, based on a copy held in that collection. The plates are probably identical to the other versions, as it would have been economically prohibitive to recreate the thousands of images for the complete work, which originally appeared in 25 volumes between 1794 and 1828. The right to publish the work, together with a stock of plates was then purchased by the Viennese publisher Anton Pichler, who published another edition of the Unterhaltungen including the mineralogy volumes [which see next entry]. Then in 1834, a `New Edition' was brought out in Augsburg by J.A. Schlossers, who had acquired the remaining stock from the original publisher, Martin Engelbrecht [which see subsequent entry].

Bibliographical references: Nissen (BBI): no. 2152 [background info.]. • Nissen (ZBI): no. 4408 [background info.]. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 7206. • Stafleu & Cowan, Taxonomic Literature, 1976-88 [botanical section described]. • USGS Library Catalog.

Unterhaltungen, 1825

2. German, 1825-8 [Another edition].
[Contained within a double rule border:] Unterhaltungen | aus der | Naturgeschichte | von Gottlieb Tobias Wilhelm | [Illustration showing a representation of Werner's tombstone, with the inscription, Hier Ruhet | Abrah. Gottlob | Werner.] | Des Mineralreichs | [double rule] | 1.^ter Band. [-2.^ter Band.] | [rule] | Wein, | gedruckt bey Anton Pichler | 1825. [-1828.]

2 vols. [Vol 1: 1825] 8°: π¹ 1⁸ A-3E⁸; 417l.; [2], [i]-xvi, [1]-816 p., engraved title page, 64 plates (numbered I-LXIV; 57 hand-colored). [Vol 2: 1828] 8°: π¹ *⁶ †⁸ A-3N⁸ 3O²; 490l.; [2], [i]-xxx, [1]-948 p., engraved title page, 68 plates (numbered I-LXVIII; all hand-colored). Page size: 174 x 106 mm.

Contents: [Vol 1] [2 pgs], Engraved title page, verso blank.; [i]-x, "Vorrede."; xi, "Berichtigungen."; xii-xvi, "Uebersicht. | Der | Abschnitte und Capitel | des | ersten Bandes der Unterhaltungen aus der Na= | turgeschichte des Mineralreiches."; [1]-816, Text.; [At end], Plates.

[Vol 2] [i-ii], Engraved title page, verso blank.; [iii]-xiv, "Vorwort."; [xv]-xxx, "Uebersicht | der | Abschnitte und Kapitel | des | zweyten Bandes 1^ten und 2^ten Abtheilung | der | Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte | des Mineralreiches."; [1]-948, Text.; [At end], Plates.

Very scarce. Published as volumes 26 and 27 of this publisher's version of the Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte. Werner, from whom the text is derived, is commemorated on the title pages and the frontispiece of the first volume.

Bibliographical references: BL. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 558. • NUC. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 7207.

3. German, 1834 [2nd edition].
[Contained within a double rule border:] Unterhaltungen | aus der | Naturgeschichte | von Gottlieb Tobias Wilhelm | [Illustration showing a representation of Werner's tombstone, with the inscription, HierRuhet | Abrah. Gottlob | Werner.] | Des Mineralreichs | [double rule] | 1.^ter Band. [-2.^ter Band.] | [rule] | Neue Ausgabe | Augsburg 1834. | In J.A. Schloßers Buch und Kunsthandlung.

2 vols. [Vol 1] 8°: xvi, 816, [55] p., 64 plates (57 hand-colored). [Vol 2] 8°: 97, xxx, 948 p., 68 hand-colored plates.

Rare. A quick check of the text makes it appears to be little modified from the previous Viennese edition., and may be the reissue of the remaining sheets and plates from the 1825-8 edition, by a different Augsburg publisher.

Bibliographical references: BL. • NUC. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993 [no copy listed].

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