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A truly historic Baedeker

15 Apr 2009

On eBay right now is a copy of Rheinlande 9 (1856), which is in itself a rare and interesting edition. But this particular copy has its own place in Baedeker history; it is specifically mentioned in Alex Hinrichsen's bibliography (on pp. 26/27 in our online translation).

You may recall an anecdote that, at Karl Baedeker's funeral in 1859, an unknown traveller, red book in hand, was seen joining the funeral procession. Well, this anecdote was recorded for posterity by a gentleman of Koblenz called August Gertner, and he wrote it down on the title page of his copy of Rheinlande 9. And it is this very book (Gertner's, that is - I don't think the unknown traveller's copy has ever been traced) which is now for sale, original note of the event and everything.

The book seems to be in good condition for its age (new spine, but complete). Go and have a look!

Incidentally, it would be interesting to have a transcription of the anecdote itself. There is a picture of the title page, but I can't quite make out all of it - here's what I can see so far:

Aug Gertner
Coblenz, 11 April 1857

Karl Bädeker, "der getreue Eckardt der Reisenden", geb. 1801 zu Essen gest. 4 Octbr 1859 zu Koblenz

(dem langen Zuge der Leidtragenden, der sich am 7. Octbr 1859 durch Koblenz bewegte, schloss sich, als Repräsentant der großen Zunft der dankbaren Reisenden, um welche der Verstorbene sich so hochverdient gemacht, ein fremder Tourist im Reiseanzug ... und trug in der Hand das rothe Buch, wie bei Begräbnissen ... wohl die Orden des Verstorbenen trägt)

(OK, this is mostly, but not exactly in "Mitteilungen für Baedeker-Freunde" Heft 3, S. 3-6.. But can you help with the missing words?)

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