The Frankfurt (Oder) City Archive has received a significant addition to its research into the region's literary history. Following the conclusion of the special exhibition on the 225th birthday of the poet Franz von Gaudy (1800-1840) at the Viadrina Museum, the classic editions on display there will now be permanently incorporated into the city archive's holdings.
Franz von Gaudy, born on 19 April 1800 in the house "Zum roten Polacken" at Oderstraße 13, was one of the most widely read authors of his era in the 19th century. As no complete estate of the author exists, this collection fills a key gap for posterity and research. The new additions are classic editions that were produced in huge print runs using stereotype printing.
The new additions supplement the old collection of Gaudy works that were once collected at the Kleist Research Centre and the City Library and transferred to the archive library by the former director of the City Archive, Elfriede Schirrmacher. This historical core collection includes rare treasures such as the extremely rare first work "Erato" (1829), a collection of poems and novellas, the famous Napoleon epic "Kaiser-Lieder" (1835) and his travelogue "Mein Römerzug" (1836).
Most recently, the collection was expanded through the acquisition of an autograph from Gaudy to his publisher Karl Reimer dated 19 July 1836.