RARE GERMAN VERSION OF BACON'S 'ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING'
Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger? (1680-1759)] [Bacon, Francis]: Des Englischen Cantzlers Francisci Baconis Vervlamii Glücks-Schmidt aus dem Lateinischen ins Teutsche übersetzet, auch mit Anmerckungen und andern hieher gehürigen Zusätzen vermehret von Johann Heinrich Acker. Jena Bey Ernst Claude Baillar. 1719. [Bound with]: 15 further publications mostly connected with Johann Heinrich Acker the younger or his father Johann Heinrich Acker the elder (1647-1719). Mostly printed in Jena or Rudolstadt. Variously printed 1703-1736.
A Sammelband of early eighteenth-century works mostly written by Johann Heinrich Acker the younger (1680-1759) but also some by his father, Johann Heinrich Acker the elder (1647-1719). Notably, this Sammelband includes five unlocated publications and a rare copy of an augmented German translation of Francis Bacon’s De Augmentis Scientiarum, itself is an expanded Latin translation of his Advancement of Learning.
Bacon’s Advancement of Learning, which has been described as ‘arguably the first important philosophical work to be published in English’, advocated that ‘the intellectual life of Europe had reached a kind of impasse or standstill’ and yet ‘there was a way beyond this stagnation if persons of learning, armed with new methods and insights, would simply open their eyes and minds to the world around them’ (Simpson IEP). It was first printed in 1605 and translated into French in 1624; but not, at this stage, into German (Gibson, 1950, p. xiv). In 1623, De Augmentis Scientiarum was first printed; it was an expanded Latin version of the Advancement of Learning, envisaged by Bacon as part of his Instauratio magna, a proposal for a fundamental restructuring of learning (only one other part, the Novum organum, was ultimately completed).
De Augmentis Scientiarum was first printed in German in 1665 (VD17 23:651444U). Our translation was printed about fifty years later (Gibson 1950/1959 records no other early German editions of the work). We have not seen the 1665 edition, and cannot say whether it influenced ours. We do note, though, that the full title of the 1665 translation as recorded in VD17 makes no mention of any additions. The title of our translation, conversely, signals that the text has been augmented (vermehret) to include comments (Anmerckungen) and additions (Zusätzen).
Our edition closes with ‘Ende des Ersten Theils’ (i.e. ‘end of first part’). However, our copy has the same number of pages as the five copies reported on OCLC, and we have found no evidence to confirm the existence of a supplementary volume. Perhaps, like Bacon’s own literary plans, Acker’s translation never came to fruition. There is, however, a known appendix to part one of Acker’s translation; it is publication [11] in our Sammelband.
The author of this translation appears to have been the younger of the two Johann Heinrich Ackers, who was rector of Gymnasium Rudolstadt. He is represented by eleven further publications in this Sammelband, most of which are constituent parts of his expansive Opuscula Eloquentiae (one unlocated: publication 6). Several other parts of the Opuscula Eloquentiae recorded in VD18 do not appear here (book 2, fascicules 2-4 are not represented here, all of which have separate editions in VD18).
His father, also called Johann Heinrich Acker, wrote various works of philology, literature, and church history. He is represented by two publications in this Sammelband, one of which a compilation of poetry that includes his own compositions (publication 1). The Sammelband closes with two publications written by neither of the Ackers, one being an unlocated edition of Tacitus’s Germania (publication 16).
Details
Printed. 16 publications in one volume, 16.2 x 10 cms in binding, octavo, pp. 1062 (pagination of individual publications below; these are almost always interspersed with two blank folios). The title listed above is the tenth in the Sammelband. Some publications include decorative headpieces, tailpieces, initials.
Bound in pale blue paper over boards. Handwritten label to spine, text very faded (‘Varia […]’). Red speckled edges. Pastedowns and one free flyleaf at front and rear.
Provenance: miscellaneous modern pencil notes to pastedowns and front free endpaper.
Condition (textblock): light to moderate browning and occasional minor staining; see also additional condition below relating to individual publications. Condition (binding): staining and wear to covering material.
Contents in full:
[1] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the elder] [compiler and contributor]; Sabinus, Georg; von Hutten, Ulrich; d’Espence, Claude; Rachel, Samuel: Selecta poetica quibus continentur Ge. Sabini praecepta observationibus aucta Ulrici de Hutten equitis Franci ars versificatoria eiusque nemo Claudii Espencaei elegiae selectiores Samuelis Rachelii classes imperatorum metricae. Rudolstadii, sumtu Io. Mart, Gollneri, anno 1711.
pp. [16] 120. Title page in red and black. Very minor worming at start (no loss of text). Small spots of mould to title page and pp. [15-16].
VD18 10212671. OCLC shows copies outside Europe at National Library of Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Warburg Institute, University of Chicago, and Princeton.
[2] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae comitata summi olim viri Ioannis Caselii politissima oratione pro arte poetarum. Fasciculus primus. Sumtu Io. Felicis Bielckii anno 1712. Rudolstadii litteris urbanianis.
pp. [8] 118 [2]. Includes final blank.
VD18 90115589. Outside mainland Europe, OCLC shows only a copy in the British Library.
[3] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae comitata Petri Apollonii collatini presbyteri novariensis carmine de pugna Davidis et Goliae Fasciculus tertius. Ienae in officina Bielckiana 1716.
pp. 56.
VD18 90115627. OCLC shows no copies outside Germany.
[4] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae comitata cl. theologi et icti paganini gaudentii praelectionibus in Taciti vitam agricolae Fasciculus secundus. Sumtu Io. Felicis Bielckii anno 1713. Rudolstadii litteris urbanianis.
pp. [8] 108 [4]. Includes two final blanks.
VD18 90115619. OCLC shows no copies outside Germany.
[5] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae comitata Guilielmi Guessi elogio Fasciculus quartus. In officina Bielkiana 1716.
pp. 32.
VD18 90115716. OCLC shows no copies outside Germany.
[6] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae Fasciculis quinque absoluta limatulisque doctorum comitata laboribus. Accedit additamentis locupletatus index. Ienae in officina Bielkiana 1717.
pp. [14]. Collation: F8 [F8 blank].
Not in VD18 or OCLC.
[7] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae comitata Iacobi Windetti docti angli limatulo carmine in immane parricidium Caroli I. Angliae Regis Fasciculus quintus. Ienae in officina Bielkiana 1717.
pp. 64 [16].
Not in VD18, but cf. OCLC accession nos. 311363268 and 1068773843 (both in German libraries).
[8] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Opuscula Eloquentiae Tomi secundi Fasciculus primus. Ienae in officina Io. Felicis Bielkii 1718.
pp. 32. Small strip of marbled paper adhered at inner margin of p. 22 (no text obscured).
VD18 90115724. OCLC shows no copies outside Germany.
[9] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the elder]: Scrutinium opinionis et scientiae. Rudolstadii in officina Gollneriana. 1715.
pp. [16] 16 42 [6]. Two lines in pencil to title page, bracketing the title.
Not in VD18, though cf. the third edition in 1718 (VD18 12806129) and the fourth in 1722 (VD18 12528161). OCLC appears to show just one copy worldwide (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek), the remaining listings being microfilm copies.
[10] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger?] [Bacon, Francis]: Des Englischen Cantzlers Francisci Baconis Vervlamii Glücks-Schmidt aus dem Lateinischen ins Teutsche übersetzet, auch mit Anmerckungen und andern hieher gehürigen Zusätzen vermehret von Johann Heinrich Acker. Jena Bey Ernst Claude Baillar. 1719.
pp. 104. Marginal pencil correction to p. 29.
Not in VD18 [OCLC accession no. 246338161 cites VD18 12138649-001, but we have not been able to find such a record in VD18; last checked December 2023]. OCLC shows no copies outside Germany.
Gibson, R. W., Francis Bacon: a bibliography of his works and of Baconiana: to the year 1750 (Oxford: Scrivener Press, 1950), p. 125 (no. 144).
[11] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger?] (praes.); de Feiltisch, Wolffgangus Christianus (resp.): Auspiciis divinis et principalibus appendix ad partem primam fabri fortunae vervlamiani in Germanicam versi linguam qua exponitur fortuna morum fabricatrix publicam subibit censuram. Rudolstadii litteris urbanianis. 1719.
pp. 16 [with p. 16 misnumbered as 19].
Not in VD18 or OCLC, but two online library catalogue records for publication [10] list ‘Acker: Fortuna morum fabricatrix. Rudolstadii 1719’ as an appendix (Gottfried Wihelm Leibniz Bibliothek and Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena).
[12] Grotius, Hugo; Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger]: Schöne Gedancken von denen Richtern über die Schilder auf Erden nebst Erleuterung Ioh. Henrich Ackers. Breßlau Bey Michael Rohrlach 1719.
pp. 64. Collation: A-D8.
Not in VD18 or OCLC, though a 1729 edition does appear on OCLC.
[13] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger?] [Blossen, Johann Christoph]: Parentation zur wohlverdienten Ehre des belobten Vaders und Chirurgi Herrn Johann Christoph Blossens gehalten und aus Licht gegeben von Mr Io. Henr. Ackern der Hoch-Fürstl. Schulen Rector. Rudolstadt. Gedruckt mit Urbanischen Schrifften A. 1716.
pp. 16. Collation: A8.
Not in VD18 or OCLC.
[14] Acker, Johann Heinrich [the younger?] [Otten, Amanda Margaretha; Otten, Georg Andreas]: Parentation zur hochverdienten Ehre der hoch-edlen und hoch-tugend begabten Frauen Frauen Amanden Margarethen Otten gebohrner Bultpien des hoch-edlen / Best- und hoch-gelahrten herrn Georg Andreen Ottens hoch-fürstl. Schwartzburgischen hochbetrauten Consistorial-Secretarii hertzlich liebgewesenen Frau Ehe-Liebsten gehalten und aus licht gegeben von Johann Heinrich Ackern. Rudolstadt Gedruckt bey Heinrich Urban 1716.
pp. 16. Collation: B8.
Not in VD18 or OCLC.
[15] Heumann, Christoph August (praes.); Schirneckius, Adamus (resp.): Excercitatio Academica de aytoxeipia philosophorum Ienae habita. N.pl., p.pr., 1703.
pp. 54 [2]. Moderate staining to some pages (including title page). Sigs. A7 and A8 adhered at outer margin.
VD18 10899618. OCLC shows one copy outside Germany (Yale University Library).
[16] Tacitus, Cornelius; Longolius, Paul Daniel: De situ, moribus, et populis Germaniae libellus. Curiae Regnitianae [Hof an der Saale], Apud Ioannem Ernestum Schulzium, 1736.
pp. [16] 47 [1]. Collation: )(8 [sig. )(8 blank] A-C8. Black circular stain to title page. Trimming to margins affecting one letter of title page but nothing in body of text. Some letters obscured in gutter of title page.
Not in VD18 or OCLC.
Bibliography
Beck, August, ‘Melissander, Heinrich’, Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, last accessed by us 20 December 2023 via https://www.deutsche biographie.de/sfz61419.html#adbcontent [Acker the elder sometimes wrote under the name Melissander. Acker the younger is also treated in this biographical entry]
Gibson, R. W., Francis Bacon: a bibliography of his works and of Baconiana: to the year 1750 (Oxford: Scrivener Press, 1950).
Gibson, R. W., Francis Bacon: a bibliography of his works and of Baconiana: to the year 1750 [Supplement] (Pasadena California, privately issued under the auspices of The Francis Bacon Foundation, Inc., 1959).
Simpson, David, ‘Bacon, Francis (1561-1626)’, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, last accessed by us 20 December 2023 via https://iep.utm.edu/francis-bacon/