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jnmczurich writes:

Letter written in Dr. E.F.F. Chladni's own hand. A tightly written page dated February 27, 1819 to the bookseller Heubner in Vienna, to whom he offers to publish his work "über Feuermeteore und über die mit denselben herabgefallenen Massen" and states his conditions in six points. After the handwritten signature follows a two-line postscript with a second signature from Dr. Chladni. At the end of the letter follows a confirmation in a different handwriting, probably written by the bookseller Heubner himself, that all points have been accepted. The book, Chladni’s second on the subject of meteors and falling masses, was published in 1819 by Heubner/Vienna.

Compared to other Chladni autographs, the letter is very beautifully handwritten without any corrections. Chladni must have taken much time to write this letter to bookseller Heubner. It is a four-page sheet of paper written on one side and in excellent condition, except for a little toning over time. Today’s paper color of the 205 years old letter is very close to RAL 1014 ("ivory colored" according to industrial color standards).

Traces of the letter being folded four times are visible. Letter format: 251 mm (page height) x 207 mm (page width), originally folded to a format of 85 mm (height) x 104 mm (width). On the back of the fourth page there is a short handwritten note by Heubner (?) that Chladni's letter, dated Febr 27, 1819, contains the publishing conditions of his work "Ueber Feuermeteore".

A word-for-word translation from the Old German script into the German script commonly used today exists (special thanks to Jörn Koblitz, Karl Wimmer and myself for discussing the content and the meaning of the letter), but a translation into English has been omitted out of respect for the letter writer (here: Dr. Chladni). The original handwritten letter and one of the 1000 printed books "Ueber Feuermeteore..." is in the collection of jnmczurich – unfortunately not for sale. Sorry.

Further information on E.F.F. Chladni can be found in Poggendorf 1/439.

Pic. 1 – A little known portrait of Dr. Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni

Pic. 2 – Original hand written letter from Chladni and translation into todays German

Pic. 3 – Friendly letter ending with two signatures from Chladni

Pic. 4 – Short handwritten note by bookseller Heubner (?) that Chladni’s letter, dated 27. Febr, 1819 contains the publishing conditions of his work "Ueber Feuermeteore"

Pic. 5 – Spine of Chladni’s book "Ueber Feuer-Meteore…"

Pic. 6 – Inside Cover of Chladni‘s book "Ueber Feuer-Meteore…"

Pic. 7a and 7b – Chladni’s book "Ueber Feuer-Meteore…"

(left) and his original hand written letter (right). What a special couple!

Pic. 8 – Screen shot of industrial color code RAL 1014, ivory color