Electoral Saxon Fountain Specialist-General
&
Marketing Expert 280 years ago:
FRIEND OF AUGUST THE STRONG
Kyaw – (The World-Famous Königstein Fountain’s Address out of His Depth to Those looking at him from above.) 24 lines. C. between 1715 and 1733. Sm. folio. 1 sheet.
Surrounded by a wide setting the quite whimsical poem (broadsheet?) tells the fountain’s story and sings the praise of the beneficialness of its water:
“ … am I now savoury, fresh, and pure / Even better against the thirst than Alicantian wine … / Regale yourself with me, you, my esteemed guests / And don’t be frightened there above since I stand fast below. ”
The dating of this
quite unique early advertising message
is given by the mention of both Elector August the Strong of Saxony and Friedrich Wilhelm of Kyaw (also Kyau) who was especially responsible for the development of the fountain. As an electoral Saxon major-general in 1715 he became commander of the Königstein where he died in 1733 as lieutenant-general. The very same year as the Elector, a friend to him, and still living when the poem was published since
“ The cup which, as a remembrance, stands here / Elector August himself has turned with his hands / Thus pour out to the health of Him who still protects me … ”
The origin by the earthy Kyaw should be revealed as well by the quotation of August who was fond of him as of his own close connection to the fountain “where he created much still being” (Mr. Poten in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie) that is to be found in the poem itself:
“ The Baron of Kyaw has done my fountain-house / For that neither ice nor snow nor rain touch me. / What for forty years people turned on my base / That my general completed in one year / Hence I am now savoury … ”
Notorious and famous “for his hilarious jokes” (Hayn-Gotendorf III, 647), his “extended hospitality, his inexhaustible humour, and his (sometimes gross) jokes”, the secret of the pen-name of his best biographer – Gregander or Cregander – has never been lifted. Just as that of the biography of 1735 by Sincerus Jocosus, missing in Hayn-Gotendorf as well as Weller. Although the fake printing location “Cölln” of the first, still unknown to H.-G., could be connected to Wittekind in Eisenach. Publications of “Strange Life and Deeds of the World-Famous Roy. Polish and Electoral Saxon Lieutenant-General and Commander of the Citadel Königstein … From reliable News and Documents” between, first, 1735 and 1772 have been many. But even one hundred years later a publisher protected himself by anonymity (Kyau’s funny Jokes and rollicking Pranks, publ. by E. v. O...n. 1840).
Besides not bothering foldings evenly quite lightly browned with only single additionally negligible spots of foxing and age. Otherwise wide-margined, with deep typography and large watermark.
For Saxon local as well as German cultural history
just as for the friend of savourable water
a singular collection jewel .
Offer no. 14,420 / EUR 199. (c. US$ 271.) + shipping
“ Thank you so much for your courtesy in keeping my request in mind. I hope that we can do business once day. With all the best wishes for the Christmas and holiday season to you ”
(Mr. S. V., December 7, 2009)