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All auctions / Medals, Arms & Armour / Jacob Baart de la Faille I (1757–1823) / Theodor van...


Auction Description (English Translation) Important Historical Autograph Lot: 2 Academic & Sociopolitical Documents from the University of Groningen (March 1816 & December 1826) – Signed by Prof. Jacob Baart de la Faille I & Theodor van Swinderen with Complete Provenance • Lot Content: An exclusive, closed ensemble consisting of two original handwritten documents from the State University of Groningen dating from 1816 and 1826. • Condition & Format: Historical laid paper with period folds, fine watermarks ("For Stuntz & Comp."), and clear, expressive iron gall ink lines. Detailed Biographies of Key Figures & Mentioned Persons: 1. Prof. Dr. Jacob Baart de la Faille I (1757–1823): o Life & Work: A highly respected Dutch scholar, mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. As a professor at the University of Groningen, he shaped the mathematical and scientific faculties for decades. o Function: He signed the official faculty letter of March 7, 1816, in his prominent role as Dean of the Mathematical-Physical Faculty (Decanus Facultatis). 2. Dr. Theodor van Swinderen (1784–1851): o Life & Work: An outstanding Dutch naturalist, zoologist, school inspector, and rector of the University of Groningen. He founded the Groningen Museum of Natural History and significantly advanced the modernization of education in the northern Netherlands. o Function: He served as faculty secretary in 1816 and authored the autograph letter of December 1826. 3. Prof. Dr. Ladislaus Chernac (1742–1816): o Life & Work: A well-known mathematician and professor of Hungarian-Dutch descent. His pending retirement due to advanced age in early 1816 prompted the formal faculty restructuring process documented here. 4. Jan Constantin Driessen: o Background: An academic contemporary and qualified scholar evaluated by the faculty as a prime successor candidate for the vacant chair. Historical Context: This lot highlights two crucial aspects of Dutch academic and social history during the consolidation phase of the young United Kingdom of the Netherlands under King William I following the Napoleonic era: • Academic Transition (1816): The State University of Groningen was undergoing restructuring and rejuvenation. The retirement of the 18th-century generation of scholars (such as Prof. Chernac) required precise, formalized faculty resolutions to maintain excellence in the sciences and mathematics. • Civic Engagement and Pauperism Relief (1826): Van Swinderen's letter to the Permanente Commissie van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid (Society of Benevolence) touches upon one of the era's foremost social projects aimed at alleviating poverty through agricultural colonies (such as Frederiksoord). Intellectuals like van Swinderen actively supported these national endeavors via patriotic publications like the "Vriend des Vaderlands". The Documents in Detail: 1. Document I (March 7, 1816, Groningen): Official university certification concerning the retirement of Prof. Ladislaus Chernac and the succession of the mathematical-physical chair, signed by Dean Jacob Baart de la Faille I and Secretary Th. van Swinderen. 2. Document II (December 13, 1826, Groningen): Autograph letter by Theodor van Swinderen to the Permanente Commissie van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid in The Hague. He apologizes for delays due to health constraints but pledges contributions and an ongoing subscription to the patriotic periodical "Vriend des Vaderlands". Provenance & Archives The lot includes complete and unbroken provenance documentation: • Original Archival Label: The precise descriptive label of the St. Lucas Society Archief voor Genealogische Documentatie. • Gallery Provenance: The original label of the renowned antique firm St. Lucas Society (Lange Voorhout 58a, 's-Gravenhage / The Hague). ANHANG: Vollständige Transkriptionen und Übersetzungen / Complete Transcriptions & Translations Dokument 1 (7. März 1816 – Fakultätsschreiben Groningen) • Niederländisches Original (Vollständige Transkription): o Die Faculteit van Wis- en Natuurkunde aan de Hoogeschool te Groningen, vernemende hebbende, dat de ge-distilleerde Hoogleerar Ladislaus Chernac regend zyne hooge jaren zijnen post gaarne wou billen verlaten, om eene honorabelle rust te genieten, en daurdoor vacant ziende worden het Professoraat in de bespiegelende Wiskunde en Wis- en Natuurkundige Wetenschappen; zoo wenscht deselve de progrese aan te nemen, mitnemende leeding dezer Hoogeschool ontvangen bij gelegenheid van het ceurtfeest dezer Akademie, intercollegiaal dat heelheid M.M. het Akt. in Phil. Dr. opproperty, een vernieuwd blijk te geven van hare byzondere achting voor eyne entillecten de redienten, door denzelven aan de Regering der Stad Deventer aan te zelen, als een vaandig opvolger van den hieromden Chernac. o Groningen den 7den Maart 1816. o Jacob Baart de la Faille, 1c Prof. Mathematum et Physic. Ordin. Decanus Facultatis. o Th. van Swinderen, Secrétaire. • Vollständige Deutsche Übersetzung: o Die Fakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften an der Hochschule zu Groningen hat vernommen, dass der hochangesehene Professor Ladislaus Chernac wegen seines hohen Alters seinen Posten gerne räumen möchte, um einen ehrenvollen Ruhestand zu genießen, wodurch die Professur für theoretische Mathematik und physikalische Wissenschaften vakant zu werden droht; so wünscht dieselbe die Vorschrift anzunehmen, unter dankbarer Leitung dieser Hochschule, empfangen anlässlich des Stiftungsfestes dieser Akademie, interkollegial und in Einmütigkeit dem Magister Artium und Dr. phil., eine erneute Probe ihrer besonderen Achtung für seine intellektuellen Verdienste zu geben, indem sie denselben der Regierung der Stadt Deventer empfiehlt als einen würdigen Nachfolger des hochberühmten Chernac. o Groningen, den 7. März 1816. o Jacob Baart de la Faille, ordentlicher Professor für Mathematik und Physik, Dekan der Fakultät. o Th. van Swinderen, Sekretär. • Complete English Translation: o The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Groningen has learned that the highly respected professor Ladislaus Chernac, due to his advanced age, wishes to vacate his post to enjoy honorable retirement, thereby threatening to leave vacant the Professorship in theoretical mathematics and physical sciences; thus the same desires to accept the prescription, under the grateful guidance of this university received on the occasion of the foundation festival of this academy, intercollegially and unanimously to the Master of Arts and PhD, to give a renewed proof of its special esteem for his intellectual merits by recommending him to the government of the city of Deventer as a worthy successor to the highly renowned Chernac. o Groningen, March 7, 1816. o Jacob Baart de la Faille, Professor of Mathematics and Physics, Dean of the Faculty. o Th. van Swinderen, Secretary. Dokument 2 (13. Dezember 1826 – Brief Th. van Swinderen) • Niederländisches Original (Vollständige Transkription): o Groningen 13 Decembe 1826. o Mijne menigvuldige bezigheden en de zwakte toestand myner gezondheid beletter my, om my te verbinden tot eenig meerder vast werk; doch, zozodra ik iets magt hebben, waardig om geplaatst te worden in den Vriend des Vaderlands, zal ik dit geerne aan de Redactie toenden, gelijk ik ook gaarne tot weder opzeggen toe wil inteekenen op dat nieuwe tydschrift, en dus by het einde van dit jaar of daerger eenen van een exemplaar verwacht. o Ik verzoek de leden van de Permanente Commissie nich van myne grote hoogachting mutual te houden. o Th. van Swinderen. o Aan de Permanente Commissie van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, te 's Gravenhage. • Deutsche Übersetzung: o Groningen, 13. Dezember 1826. o Meine vielfältigen Geschäfte und der schwache Zustand meiner Gesundheit hindern mich daran, mich zu irgendwelcher festeren Arbeit zu verpflichten; doch sobald ich etwas haben werde, das es wert ist, im ‚Freund des Vaderlands‘ platziert zu werden, werde ich dies gerne der Redaktion zukommen lassen, ebenso wie ich gerne bis auf Widerruf auf diese neue Zeitschrift abonnieren möchte, und daher gegen Ende dieses Jahres oder früher ein Exemplar erwarte. o Ich bitte die Mitglieder der Permanenten Kommission, meiner großen Hochachtung gewiss zu sein. o Th. van Swinderen. o An die Permanente Kommission der Gesellschaft für Wohltätigkeit in Den Haag. • English Translation: o Groningen, December 13, 1826. o My manifold occupations and the weak state of my health prevent me from committing to any more fixed work; however, as soon as I have something worthy of being placed in the 'Friend of the Fatherland', I will gladly send it to the editors, just as I would gladly subscribe to this new journal until further notice, and therefore expect a copy towards the end of this year or earlier. o I request the members of the Permanent Commission to be assured of my high esteem. o Th. van Swinderen. o To the Permanent Commission of the Society of Benevolence, The Hague. #C 176 Look to the pictures!
Estimate:£127.57
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OCT 17 | 10:00 PM

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