Books from the European Enlightenment from Susanne Schulz-Falster Rare Books
- by Michael Stillman
How Belgians put out fires.
Item 107 is an early look at the American Revolution from European eyes: Recueil d'Estampes representant les differents evenemens de la guerre, qui a procure l'independence aux Etats Unis de l'Amerique. The book contains 12 engraved scenes from the Revolution, accompanied by text and two maps. Among the scenes are a tar and feathering of a tax collector (we still do that), the Battle of Lexington, and the surrender of Saratoga. The author was Nicolas Ponce, and the publication date 1784, not long after the war came to an end. £2,250 (US $3,618).
Item 113 is Pompes incendie, a Liege, au Robinet d'Or... Laurent Requile provides us with a catalogue of the latest fire fighting equipment as of 1830. He provides a detailed description of his fire engine, which is easily moved, quick to install and dismantle, and pumps out a lot of water at high pressure. Quite naturally, Requile recommends having a lot of these fire engines since he is also selling them. £750 (US $1,206).
