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V4 2001 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 4, Number 15, April 8, 2001, Article 13 DR. LEWIS FEUCHTWANGER Dave Bowers has a second question for us: "I am gathering a data base on Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger, and have been for a long time. I have all of the things in regular numismatic publications over the years but would dearly love to buy or borrow any ephemera -- such as broadsides or advertisements for his patent medicines, products made from his "composition," personal correspondence, etc. He also wrote a delightful book, TREATISE ON GEMS, published in 1838, then in at least two later editions (with expansions including color plates), all of which I have -- but thought mention of them might be of interest here." [Editor's note: Dave's note led me to pull some Feuchtwanger items from my own library; I have two. First, is an 1838 First Edition of "A Treatise on Gems". The second item is another book of Feuchtwanger's, "Fermented Liquors: A Treatise on Brewing, Distilling, Rectifying, and Manufacturing of Sugars, Wines, Spirits, and All Known Liquors, Including Cider and Vinegar. Also, Hundreds of Valuable Directions in Medicine, Metallurgy, Pyrotechny, and The Arts in General" (Published by the author, New York, 1858). Feuchtwanger must have been a colorful character. The mention of Pyrotechny caught my eye. Part III, Chapter VII is titled "On Colored Fires of Pyrotechnics - The best prescriptions for producing fine colored fireworks, from the author's own experience." Incidentally, one numismatic reference popped up unexpectedly which searching the web for Feuchtwanger information. It concerns Clarence S. Bement, whose collection was sold by Henry Chapman in two sales (1916, 1918). The following text is taken from the web site of New York Mineralogist Lawrence H. Conklin, reprinting an article on Charles W. Herrmann, Mineralogist and Mineral Dealer, which originally appeared in The Mineralogical Record, Volume 25, May - June, 1994) http://www.lhconklin.com/bio/publications/herrmann.htm "In 1891 Herrmann sent to Clarence S. Bement a copy of a book written by Lewis Feuchtwanger (1807-1876) which the author had presented to him. Since he mentions in the accompanying letter that "many minerals are painted [colored]" the book in question must have been A Popular Treatise On Gems, of the third or fourth edition. He told Bement that "Dr. Feuchtwanger came every Sunday afternoon to me even when ice was on the street, talking minerals." Herrmann further informed Bement that after Feuchtwanger died, when both of his daughters were in Paris, his mineral collection was stolen. It would seem that Feuchtwanger had a lot of bad luck with his collection. Canfield, in his Final Disposition (see vol. 21, no. 1,p. 41-46, 39) states that Feuchtwanger's . . . . . . daughters presented his collection to the Society of Ethical Culture of New York City, about 1900. It was a general collection. Many years ago, while this collection was exhibited in the Old Arsenal in Central Park, some of the specimens were stolen. Perhaps they were both referring to the same event. The Arsenal was the first (and temporary) home of the American Museum of Natural History and was occupied by the museum from 1870 to 1879 while the great complex of buildings on Central Park West was under construction. It is still standing today."

Wayne Homren, Editor

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