Allgemeines historisches Taschenbuch, oder Abriss der merkwürdigsten neuen Welt-Begebenheiten: enthaltend für 1784 die Geschichte der Revolution von Nord-America [General historical pocketbook, summarizing noteworthy world news of 1784, with a History of the Revolution in North America]

Various artists/makers

Not on view

This extra-illustrated volume contains 182 pages of text preceded by a frontispiece, the latter from a different 1784 publication. Within the text are 24 printed historical images (two copies each of 12 American Revolutionary subjects)--designed by Chodowiecki and probably all engraved by Berger. 11 drawings by Ramberg, made ca. 1786-87, treat the same subjects (except for the Stamp Act demonstration) and follow pairs 2-12 of the prints. At the end of the text 6 additional prints, all probably engraved by Berger, represent portrait heads of leading Americans, medals from 1776, an American flag and banner, and various American military uniforms. At the back is a folded map of the East Coast of North America by Sotzmann, based on a 1783 British map by Faden.
The volume is bound in black leather with stamped, gilded, and colored ornament inside the front and back covers showing a wreath, and an American shield and cap; housed in a marbled paper slipcase. The New York binders Stikeman likely created this extra-illustrated volume for the collector-donor Charles Allen Munn, expanding the original text with its 12 historical prints after Chodowiecki, and 6 concluding prints by Berger. Added later were: the frontispiece, alternate states of the 12 Chodowiecki illustrations, 11 drawings by Ramberg, and the map.
Illustrations:
(1a) Frontispiece: D. Berger after J. W. Meil, Historical-genealogical calender, or yearbook, of noteworthy world news for 1784 [Historisch genealogischer Calender, oder Jahrbuch, der merkwürdigsten neuen Welt Begebenheiten für 1784], Lepizig zur Messe beÿ Haude und Spener von Berlin; etching and engraving; inscribed in plate below image: "J. W. Meil del."; "D. Berger sc. 1783."
(1) between pp. 60-61: Berger after Chodowiecki, Bostonians protest the Stamp Act in August 1764 and burn stamped paper sent from England [Die Americaner wiederssetzen sich der Stampel-Acte, und verbrennen das aus England nach America gefandte Stempel-Papier zu Boston im August 1764], etching and engraving, 1784; inscribed in plate: "D. Chodowiecki inv. et del."; "D. Berger sculpsit. 1784"; upper left: "S.61"; upper right: "1".
(2) between pp. 60-61: Berger after Chodowiecki, Bostonians protest the Stamp Act in August 1764 and burn stamped paper sent from England [Die Americaner wiederssetzen sich der Stampel-Acte, und verbrennen das aus England nach America gefandte Stempel-Papier zu Boston im August 1764], etching and engraving (early state with less tone), 1784; inscribed in plate: "D. Chodowiecki inv. et del."; "D. Berger sculpsit. 1784"; upper left: "S.61"; upper right: "1".
(3) between pp. 74-75: prob. Berger, after Chodowiecki, The inhabitants of Boston dump English-East Indian tea in the harbor, December 18, 1773 [Die Einwohner von Boston werfen den englisch-ostindischen Thee ins Meer am 18 December 1773], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.74"; upper right: "2".
(4) between pp. 74-75: prob. Berger, after Chodowiecki, The inhabitants of Boston dump English-East Indian tea in the harbor, December 18, 1773; etching and engraving (early state before shading), inscribed in plate below image: "Die Einwohner von Boston werfen den englisch-ostindischen Thee ins Meer am 18 December 1773"; upper left: "S.74"; upper right: "2".
(5) opposite p. 75: Ramberg, Boston Tea Party (different composition than Chodowiecki); pen and ink and wash drawing [illegible German title inscribed below image].
(6) between pp. 84-85: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, First American blood shed in defence of liberty, at Lexington, 19th April, 1775 [Das erste Bürger-Blut, zu Gründung der Americanischen Freyheit, vergossen bey Lexington am 19-ten April 1775, etching and engraving; upper left: "S.84"; upper right: 3".
(7) between pp. 84-85: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, First American blood shed in defence of liberty, at Lexington, 19th April, 1775 [Das erste Bürger-Blut, zu Gründung der Americanischen Freyheit, vergossen bey Lexington am 19-ten April 1775, etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.84"; upper right: "3".
(8) opposite p. 85: Ramberg, Conflict at Lexington (different composition than Chodowiecki); pen and ink and wash drawing; inscrbed "Batialle zu-c Lexington".
(9) between pp. 88-89: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, First formal battle between the Americans and British at Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775 [Die erste förmliche Action zwischen den Americanern und Engländern bey Bunders-Hill, am 17ten Junius 1775], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.88"; upper right: "4".
(10) between pp. 88-89: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, First formal battle between the Americans and British at Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775 [Die erste förmliche Action zwischen den Americanern und Engländern bey Bunders-Hill, am 17ten Junius 1774 [sic], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.88"; upper right: "4".
(11) opposite p. 89: Ramberg: Battle of Bunker's Hill (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing, inscribed in ink below image: "HR 1786"; lower right in ink: "IV".
(12) between pp. 88-89: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Congress declares the thirteen United States of North America independent, July 4, 1776 [Der Congress erklärt die 13 vereinigten Staaten von Nord-America für independent. am 4-ten July 1776], etching and engraving; upper left: S.99"; upper right: "5".
(13) between pp. 88-89: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Congress declares the thirteen United States of North America independent, July 4, 1776 [Der Congress erklärt die 13 vereinigten Staaten von Nord-America für independent. am 4-ten July 1776], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.99"; upper right: "5".
(14) opposite p. 99: Ramberg, Signing of the Declaration of Independence (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing.
(15) between pp. 110-11: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Hessian troops defeated by Washington at Trenton on Dec. 25, 1776, are brought back to Philadelphia as prisoners [Die Hessen, vom General Washington am 25-ten Dec: 1776, zu Trenton überfallen, werden als Kriegsgefangne in Philadelphia eingebracht], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.iii"; upper right: "6".
(16) between pp. 110-11: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Hessian troops defeated by Washington at Trenton on Dec. 25, 1776, are brought back to Philadelphia as prisoners [Die Hessen, vom General Washington am 25-ten Dec: 1776, zu Trenton überfallen, werden als Kriegsgefangne in Philadelphia eingebracht], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.iii"; upper right: "6".
(17) opposite p. 111: Ramberg, Wounded man, woman and children watch troops march into Philadelphia (different composition than Chodowiecki), wash drawing, 1787; inscribed in pen and ink: "H. Ramberg 1787".
(18) between pp. 118-19: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, The Americans take the troops of General Burgoyne prisoner at the Battle of Saratoga, 16 October, 1777 [Die Americaner machen das Corps des General Bourgoyne zu Gefangnen bey Saratoga, am 16-ten October 1777], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.119"; upper right: "7".
(19) between pp. 118-19: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, The Americans take the troops of General Burgoyne prisoner at the Battle of Saratoga, 16 October, 1777 [Die Americaner machen das Corps des General Bourgoyne zu Gefangnen bey Saratoga, am 16-ten October 1777], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.119"; upper right: "7'.
(20) opposite p. 119: Ramberg, The Americans take English troops prisoner at the Battle of Saratoga (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing; inscribed in ink lower left below image: "HR".
(21) between pp. 120-21: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Franklin's first audience at Versailles, as representative of the free American states, 20 March, 1778 [Dr. Franklin erhält, als Gefandter des Americanischen Frey Staats, seine Audienz in Granreich, zu Versailles, am 20-ten März 1778], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.121"; upper right: "8".
(22) between pp. 120-121: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Franklin's first audience at Versailles, as representative of the free American states, 20 March, 1778 [Dr. Franklin erhält, als Gefandter des Americanischen Frey Staats, seine Audienz in Granreich, zu Versailles, am 20-ten März 1778], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.121"; upper right: "8".
(23) opposite p. 121: Ramberg, Franklin's first audience at Versailles as representative of the United States of America (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing; inscribed in pen and ink, lower left below image: "H. Ramberg, 1787".
(24) following pp. 136-37: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, French troops land at Rhode Island, July 11, 1780 [Landung einer Französischen Hülfs-Armee in America, zu Rhode Jsland, am 11-ten Julius 1780], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.136"; upper right: "9".
(25) between pp. 136-37: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, French troops land at Rhode Island, July 11, 1780 [Landung einer Französischen Hülfs-Armee in America, zu Rhode Jsland, am 11-ten Julius 1780], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.136"; upper right: "9".
(26) between pp. 136-37: Ramberg, French troops land at Rhode Island (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing, inscribed in pen and ink lower left: "HR".
(27) opposite p. 137: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, The Americans defeat Lord Cornwallis and his Army at Yorktown, 19 October, 1781 [Die Americaner machen den Lord Cornwallis mit seiner Armee zu Gefangnen, bey Yorktown den 19-ten Octobr 1781], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.137"; upper right: "11".
(28) opposite p. 137: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, The Americans defeat Lord Cornwallis and his Army at Yorktown, 19 October, 1781 [Die Americaner machen den Lord Cornwallis mit seiner Armee zu Gefangnen, bey Yorktown den 19-ten Octobr 1781], etching and engraving (early state with less tone).
(29) opposite p. 137: Ramberg, Cornwallis at Yorktown (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing; inscribed lower left: "H. Ramberg"; inscribed upper left: "S.137"; upper right: "11".
(30) between pp. 142-43: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Three Americans Arrest Major André at Tarrytown, 23 September, 1780 [Major André, von drey Americanern angehalten zu Tarrytown am 23-ten Septemr 1780], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.142"; upper right: "10".
(31) between pp. 142-43: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, Three Americans Arrest Major André at Tarrytown, 23 September, 1780 [Major André, von drey Americanern angehalten zu Tarrytown am 23-ten September 1780], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.142"; upper right: "10".
(32) opposite p. 143: Ramberg, Three Americans Arrest Major André at Tarrytown (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing; inscribed in ink lower left: "HR 1787".
(33) between pp. 144-45: probably Berger, after Chodowiecki, End of Hostilities, English troops leave New York in American hands, 1783 [Ende der Feindseeligkeiten. Die Engländer räumen den Americanern Neu-York ein.---1783], etching and engraving; upper left: "S.144"; upper right: "12".
(34) between pp. 144-45: prob. Berger, after Chodowiecki, End of Hostilities, English troops leave New York in American hands, 1783 [Ende der Feindseeligkeiten. Die Engländer räumen den Americanern Neu-York ein.---1783], etching and engraving (early state with less tone); upper left: "S.144"; upper right: "12".
(35) opposite p. 145: Ramberg, Departure of English troops from New York (different composition than Chodowiecki), pen and ink and wash drawing; inscribed in ink, lower left corner of image: "HR".
(36) opposite p. 182: Berger, Portrait heads of General Washington, General Gates, Dr. Franklin, Henry Laurens (President of the Continental Congress after John Hancock), Paul Jones, 1784, etching engraving; inscribed lower right: "D. Berger sculps. 1783".
(37) following p. 182: Berger, American medal, 1776, etching and engraving 1784; inscribed in plate lower left: "D. Berger sculps. 1784".
(38) following p. 182: Berger, American medal, 1776, etching and engraving 1784.
(39) following p. 182: Flag and banner of the 13 United States [Flaage der 13 vereinigten Staaten von Nord America / Wimpel der 13 vereinigten Staaten von Nord America], hand-colored etching and engraving.
(40) following p. 182: George Washington's Horse bodyguard and Independent company leader [General Washington's reitende Leibgarde. / die independent company chef General Washington], hand-colored etching and engraving.
(41) following p. 182: American rifleman sharpshooter and Pennsylvania infantryman [Americanischer Scharffschüzer oder Fäger Rifleman / regular Infanterie von Pennsylvanien], hand-colored etching and engraving.
(42) at the back (folded): prepared by Sotzmann, after Faden, Map of the United States of North America, 1783 [Die Vereinigten Staaten von Nord-America. nach der von Wm Faden 1783, herausgegebenen Charte...Berlin bey Haude u: Spener], hand-colored etching and engraving; inscribed in plate, lower right: "genau zusammengetragen von D. Sotzmann".

Allgemeines historisches Taschenbuch, oder Abriss der merkwürdigsten neuen Welt-Begebenheiten: enthaltend für 1784 die Geschichte der Revolution von Nord-America [General historical pocketbook, summarizing noteworthy world news of 1784, with a History of the Revolution in North America], Matthias Christian Sprengel (German, 1746–1803), Illustrations: etching and engraving, some hand-colored; pen and ink and wash drawings

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(5) Boston Tea Party