Book of Anecdotes from 1787

Exhibit of the Month 4 / 2023

As the exhibit of the month of April, we would like to present one of the interesting old prints from the collection of our museum library:

ANEKDOTEN UND BEMERKUNGEN ÜBER WIEN. WIEN: JOHANN DAVID HÖRLING, 1787.

This is a book of anecdotes printed in 1787 in Vienna by the famous printer and publisher Johann David Hörling. The book contains period short humorous and satirical stories compiled in the form of letters. The author is the actor and writer Johann Friedel, who was a very interesting personality of the last third of the 18th century. He was called a rebel and an adventurer, and in his work, he mocks the immorality and pleasures of the Viennese or foreigners and the imitation of foreign customs. At the same time, he enthusiastically celebrates the reforms of Joseph II.

The book has 264 pages and the text is written in German. It is a simple print without illustrations. The title page features a vignette depicting musical instruments. On the front covers, there is a paper label with the old signature K-178. The binding of the book is made of starch paper with cardboard, and in our copy, it is significantly worn, especially on the covers.

The book belonged to the museum's collections even before World War II. On the page before the title page, there is a stamp "Archiv und Museum der Stadt Brüx," as well as on the title page. How the book came into the collection is unknown. Currently, it is classified in our library in the sub-collection of Old Prints under the accession number 1248/ St.t.

Text and photo: Diana Šlajsnová Kvapilová