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Auction archive: Lot number 3182

RUSKIN, JOHN. 1819-1900.

Estimate
US$0
Price realised:
US$4,800
Auction archive: Lot number 3182

RUSKIN, JOHN. 1819-1900.

Estimate
US$0
Price realised:
US$4,800
Beschreibung:

RUSKIN’S NOTES ON CARLYLE. Autograph Manuscript, 14 pp, legal folio, n.p., [1866], being notes on Thomas Carlyle’s six-volume work on Friedrich the Great (numbered pp 5-18), on foolscap, leaves tipped at all edges to mounts, bound in full gilt-lettered and decorated crushed brown morocco by Riviere and Son, 3 inch separation at tail of spine, wear at head of spine, corners bumped. This lot features 14 pages of manuscript notes by author and critic John Ruskin on reading Thomas Carlyle’s classic work History of Friedrich II of Prussia.... (London: 1858-65) in preparation for the composition of his essay “Notes on the Economies of the Kings of Prussia” published in his collection of essays on war, The Crown of Wild Olive (1866). In the introductory paragraphs of the published essay, Ruskin explains, “I therefore have determined to print here, as a sequel to the Essay on War, my notes from the first volume of Friedrich, on the economies of Brandenburg, up to the date of the establishment of the Prussian monarchy. The economies of the first three kings of Prussia I shall then take up in Fors Clavigera, finding them fitter for examination in connection with the subject of that book than of this.” Ruskin also asks his audience to take down their volumes of Carlyle’s work and refer to it during the course of reading his essay, and even includes chapter and page number references to support his arguments. Because of this, a great deal of the text from the manuscript offered here makes it into the published version of the essay. Much of the information contained in these pages covers the early years of Austrian and Prussian monarchies, from the year 900 to 1667. His notes on the early kings are very close to the finished project. In part: “Friedrich II, called Ferratis dentibus from his firmness, proves a notable manager and governor. Builds the palace at Berlin in its first form and makes it his chief residence. Buys Neumark from the fallen Teutcsch Ritters and generally establishes things on secure footing. / III. Albert. A fiery, tough old gentleman; called the Achilles of Germany in his day; has half a century of fighting with his own Nurembergers, with Bavaria, France, Burgundy, and its fiery Charles; & besides being head constable to the Kaiser, among any disorderly persons in the East. His skull long shown on his tomb ‘marvellous for strength, and with no visible sutures.’ / IV. John, the orator of his race, but oration unrecorded. His second son Archbishop of Manitz: for whom piece of memorable work see p 223 and read in connection with that, the history of Markgraf George, p 237-241 and the 8th chapter of the third book.” Ruskin ponders whether Prussia’s military advancements, which have strengthened it politically, have produced a better environment in which king and subjects are to live. See illustration.

Auction archive: Lot number 3182
Auction:
Datum:
4 Dec 2007
Auction house:
Bonhams London
New York 580 Madison Avenue New York NY 10022 Tel: +1 212 644 9001 Fax : +1 212 644 9009 info.us@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

RUSKIN’S NOTES ON CARLYLE. Autograph Manuscript, 14 pp, legal folio, n.p., [1866], being notes on Thomas Carlyle’s six-volume work on Friedrich the Great (numbered pp 5-18), on foolscap, leaves tipped at all edges to mounts, bound in full gilt-lettered and decorated crushed brown morocco by Riviere and Son, 3 inch separation at tail of spine, wear at head of spine, corners bumped. This lot features 14 pages of manuscript notes by author and critic John Ruskin on reading Thomas Carlyle’s classic work History of Friedrich II of Prussia.... (London: 1858-65) in preparation for the composition of his essay “Notes on the Economies of the Kings of Prussia” published in his collection of essays on war, The Crown of Wild Olive (1866). In the introductory paragraphs of the published essay, Ruskin explains, “I therefore have determined to print here, as a sequel to the Essay on War, my notes from the first volume of Friedrich, on the economies of Brandenburg, up to the date of the establishment of the Prussian monarchy. The economies of the first three kings of Prussia I shall then take up in Fors Clavigera, finding them fitter for examination in connection with the subject of that book than of this.” Ruskin also asks his audience to take down their volumes of Carlyle’s work and refer to it during the course of reading his essay, and even includes chapter and page number references to support his arguments. Because of this, a great deal of the text from the manuscript offered here makes it into the published version of the essay. Much of the information contained in these pages covers the early years of Austrian and Prussian monarchies, from the year 900 to 1667. His notes on the early kings are very close to the finished project. In part: “Friedrich II, called Ferratis dentibus from his firmness, proves a notable manager and governor. Builds the palace at Berlin in its first form and makes it his chief residence. Buys Neumark from the fallen Teutcsch Ritters and generally establishes things on secure footing. / III. Albert. A fiery, tough old gentleman; called the Achilles of Germany in his day; has half a century of fighting with his own Nurembergers, with Bavaria, France, Burgundy, and its fiery Charles; & besides being head constable to the Kaiser, among any disorderly persons in the East. His skull long shown on his tomb ‘marvellous for strength, and with no visible sutures.’ / IV. John, the orator of his race, but oration unrecorded. His second son Archbishop of Manitz: for whom piece of memorable work see p 223 and read in connection with that, the history of Markgraf George, p 237-241 and the 8th chapter of the third book.” Ruskin ponders whether Prussia’s military advancements, which have strengthened it politically, have produced a better environment in which king and subjects are to live. See illustration.

Auction archive: Lot number 3182
Auction:
Datum:
4 Dec 2007
Auction house:
Bonhams London
New York 580 Madison Avenue New York NY 10022 Tel: +1 212 644 9001 Fax : +1 212 644 9009 info.us@bonhams.com
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