Juliusz Kolberg, A Comparison of Current and Historical Measures and Weights Used in the Kingdom of Poland with Those Used Abroad [1838]

Author: Juliusz Kolberg [1776–1831, cartographer and surveyor, professor at the University of Warsaw, designer of the first Polish planimeter; father of Wilhelm and ethnographer Oskar Kolberg]; revised and expanded by Wilhelm Kolberg [1807–1877, civil and hydraulic engineer, cartographer, son of Juliusz]

Publisher: Józef Węcki’s Printing House, the preferred printer and bookseller of the Court of the Kingdom of Poland, Warsaw

Year of publication: 1838 (second edition, significantly expanded)

Volume: [10] pages of introductory material + 134 pages of substantive content + 40 pages of geometric measurement conversion tables; a handwritten appendix is sewn into the end of the block

Size: 22 cm

Binding: Period half-leather, with embossing, gilt title labels, and a gold owner’s monogram “L.W.” at the bottom of the spine

A compendium for converting old Polish measures (elbow, foot, korec, garniec, pound, łut) into modern Polish measures, as well as Russian, Prussian, Austrian, French, and English measures. It was compiled by Juliusz Kolberg (1776–1831), a cartographer and surveyor, and the second, significantly expanded edition was prepared by his son Wilhelm, the brother of Oskar Kolberg. Tables of this kind were everyday tools for surveyors, builders, merchants, and officials.

A copy with an interesting addition: at the end, the bookbinder sewed in several dozen blank pages, some of which were written on with a quill pen during that era. The notes contain calculations converting old Polish cubits into Russian sazhens. On the spine is a gilded monogram “L.W.” (owner unknown); on the half-title page is an old, illegible signature.

The text block and the handwritten insert sewn into it are intact. The paper has slight foxing, and the tables are legible. The period half-leather binding holds the text block securely; the spine leather shows natural scuffs, and the edges of the cover are dulled.

An item from the 19th Polish Antiquarian Book Auction.