The Caves of Muggendorf

ROSENMÜLLER, Johann Christian.

Die Merkwürdigkeiten der Gegend um Muggendorf.

Six finely engraved plates, three of which are aquatints & four are skillfully hand-colored. 90 pp. Folio, cont. marbled boards (minor foxing). Berlin: J.F. Unger, 1804.

First edition of this beautifully illustrated work; it is quite rare, and WorldCat locates no copy in North America. This is an account of the notable caves and other important geological features of the area around Muggendorf near Erlangen in Bavaria. Rosenmüller (1771-1820), was professor of anatomy and surgery at the University of Leipzig and a gifted artist of fine anatomical illustrations for his medical works and geological drawings for the present work.

While a student in Erlangen, Rosenmüller explored the many caves of Upper Franconia and in one discovered the remains of a now-extinct species of bear known as Ursus spelaeus. In 1804, he published two illustrated works: one on this cave bear and the present book.

In our book, the author describes the caves and rocky peaks of the area, their geological features, and the history of the caves’ discoveries and explorations. He provides the first account of the “Rosenmüller Cave,” which he discovered. Three of the plates depict the mouth of this cave and its dramatic interiors.

Fine copy, printed on fine paper by Unger, the great German printer, typographer, and the publisher of Goethe.

❧ Zittel, p. 135.

Price: $9,500.00

Item ID: 8664