1870 - 1871 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT TRAVEL AND STUDY DIARY OF A DETERMINED MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER TRAVELING AND STUDYING IN BERLIN GERMANY AT THE HEIGHT OF THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR

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On offer is a sensational December 1870 to June 1871 manuscript journal and diary of Will A. Briggs as noted in his own hand on the title page. One part travel diary, another part historical observations on the condition of Europe and specifically Germany and the city of Berlin during the Franco-Prussian War [we particularly note his description of Berlin during the celebration of Berliners to the successful Siege of Paris and Armistice January 1871] and another part handwritten relic of a serious student and composer of music, this book was obviously a treasure to the author given the fact the pages are bound in fine original gilt decorated brown morocco leather boards; spine sympathetically rebacked in antique style, the gilt ruled & decorated spine with 5 raised bands, red & black gilt lettered morocco labels. Briggs in a fine hand details his travels by ship, S.S. India, from New York City to Berlin, Prussia and Europe. The text covers 193 of 350+ pages and a further half dozen pages contain summary lists: "Log of the S.S. Iowa from Glasgow to New York", "Places of Amusement", "Summary of Berlin Theatres", "Rail Road v Steam Boat Travel", "Hotels Stopped at in Europe, (1871 Hamburg Hotel bill tipped in)", "Passengers on Board the S.S. India", "Musical Compositions Written in Europe". He also notes the entertainments he sees or takes part in the important attendees plus much, much more providing a 'Grand Tour' journal of depth and significance in his descriptions of Berlin and Germany. NOTE: While not specifically stated we are certain that 'Will A. Briggs' was William Adams Briggs who is noted in a 1903 Vermont newspaper as having been a student of music who furthered his studies in Berlin in 1870 and 1871. He returned to Vermont to be the organist at the Bethany Church and a teacher of music at the Goddard Seminary in Barre Vermont. This is conclusive given the confirming contents of the handwritten travel book. There is some stiffening to some pages and some yellowing but overall the book is G+. Thick 8vo. 8.5" x 7.25" inches. 352 numbered pages.; Manuscript; 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; KEYWORDS: FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR, WAR OF 1870, PRUSSIA, GERMANY, BERLIN, GRAND TOUR, COMPOSERS, MUSICIANS, TRAVEL, VERMONT, ORGANIST, BRIGGS, EUROPE, EUROPEAN GRAND TOUR, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito, Papel, Show more