Leben und Schicksale Johann Peter Lange's; oder, der unglückliche Wanderer in gesunden und blinden Tagen

by Johann Peter Lange

Schleusingen: Published by the author, 1818

XII, 275, [1] p. + [2] plates | 8vo | pi^6 1-17^8 18^2 | 170 x 110 mm

Stated third edition of the German journeyman printer's self-published memoir, though it's worth noting that the university library in Erfurt reports a stated third edition from 1817. The second edition appeared that year, too, after the first of 1813. In his preface, the author attributes his vision loss to a "strange eye disease" (merkwürdigen Augenkrankheit). He hopes the book will provide a model of behavior for those in a similar condition, will help the healthy to avoid the condition altogether, and will provide him with some financial relief—for which purpose he chose to publish by subscription (see the list of subscribers on p. [V]-XII). ¶ This is an extraordinary memoir, certainly of one person's struggle with disability, but no less of A LIFE CHASING WORK AS A JOURNEYMAN PRINTER. Lange starts with his birth in 1768, the untimely loss of his father at a young age, and schooling in his Thuringian hometown of Schleusingen. He had hoped to pursue an academic life, but the precarious nature of his fatherless household forced him to take up a trade (p. 7). His brother, who was studying theology in Leipzig, suggested printing. And so upon meeting a certain Schleusingen printer by the name of Günther at the Leipzig book fair—identified on p. 61 as Christoph Günther—he committed to a six-year apprenticeship (p. 8). He waxes romantically on the experience—to be sure, Lange demonstrates a literary flair throughout—even providing a transcription of the speech Günther gave upon completion of his apprenticeship (p. 12-14). The whole book is remarkably intimate. Lange shares his hopes, his struggles, his love. More than half the narrative follows the author as he seeks printing work across southern Germany and eastern France. His wife, Hannchen, accompanies him for most of this long journey. Lange shares her thoughts freely, too, and recounts much of her own dialogue and actions. He reflects frequently on the hospitality of the many places they stayed. On Mainz, for example: "Here the wine and food were extremely cheap, and throughout the whole journey we did not eat as well and cheaply as we did here" (p. 89). At times, it reads like A SWASHBUCKLING TRAVELOGUE (see p. 53 for a bloody highway encounter). The couple found themselves traveling through France just as the crown began cracking down on its increasingly revolutionary populace, a period that filled Lange with trepidation. What if printing came to a standstill, for example (p. 141)?  ¶  Not until p. 179 do we come Lange's vision problems. He attributes the root of the malady to an episode that occurred when he was just 16. A fellow apprentice, with whom he shared a bed, developed a debilitating oozing rash. Lange soon developed the rash himself. A layperson's suggested treatment caused his eyes to inflame and fester (entzundeten und...anfingen). He did eventually seek professional care, which resolved the problem after a few months (and so Lange warns his readers about seeking medical assistance from the untrained). Some ten years later, he developed a case of hemorrhoids and—his own advice notwithstanding—tried a remedy recommended by a friend. It relieved the hemorrhoids, but brought on other pain and extraordinary fatigue (p. 184-185). Meanwhile, Lange BLAMES THE DEMANDS OF THE LEIPZIG BOOK FAIR for a fresh case of eye inflammation. Not long after, he developed cataracts in both eyes (graue Staar). Surgical removal of the cataracts appeared to work at first, but he continued to struggle. Fortunately, he was able to continue working amidst multiple operations—five operations on the left eye, seven on the right (p. 263)—and this part of his memoir offers telling details on his printing work. He provides equally illuminating details on the various eye operations, too, which he discusses at some length. But those many surgeries were not enough to forestall his eventual loss of vision. ¶ With a frontispiece portrait of the author seated at a desk, writing his name with an assistive device. A more detailed illustration of this device faces p. 274 (see p. 266-267 for his description). Tabs on an angled writing board hold the paper in place. Meanwhile, a narrow frame spanning the width of the page, which can be moved down the board by degrees, helps the author to maintain straight lines and keep a tidy page. ¶ A remarkably personal memoir, recounting the life of a journeyman printer, a life of travel, and finally a life with disability. We find no copies of any editions in North American libraries, and this is the only copy of any edition that we find at auction.

CONDITION: Early half leather and faintly marbled boards. ¶ Sheets 10-15 wormed, affecting a couple of lines; title moderately soiled, with milder scattered soiling throughout. Spine a trifle cocked, and surface of the boards rubbed. A nice, solid copy.

Item #696