7318 - A historically significant letter describing a journey, including a train ride in 1837 from Leipzig via Nuremberg to Basel

A historically significant letter describing a journey, including a train ride in 1837 from Leipzig via Nuremberg to Basel Double sheet (approx. 25.5 x 21 cm), written on three sides in black ink; the reverse side is addressed to a Mr. Schnaase in Danzig and bears the postmark “Basel 22 Aout 1837.” A Dr. phil. A. Herrmann writes to his friend at length about his impressions of the trip: “On Sunday, July 23, I arrived in Leipzig on a glorious morning [..] My first stop was St. Peter’s Church […], then St. Thomas Church, where a concert was held to benefit the town of Schleiz, which had been destroyed by fire” (Note: On July 3, 1837, there was a fire in Schleiz). In the afternoon, he saw “for the first time the departing and arriving steam car [.] With every step, my excitement grew; soon a roar could be heard in the distance, and a short while later a train of 8–10 cars carrying more than 100 people rattled past. A magnificent sight—and, especially at first glance, a spine-tingling one! It was as if a fabulous monster had escaped from the wilderness and was running past, unleashing its fury from the [.] steam pipe. [..] From Coburg via Bamberg to Erlangen. [..] I also rode a steam train for the first time. The two-hour journey to Fürth was covered in 10 minutes. In the enclosed car, I felt none of the shudder that had run through me at first sight near Leipzig.” He concludes with “May God preserve you, your loved ones, and all your dear friends and acquaintances. [.] Farewell! Yours, A. Herrmann, Dr. phil.” Folded multiple times, with damage and tears along the edges, and stained. Starting in December 1835, the Ludwigeisenbahn operated the first public passenger service between Nuremberg and Fürth; freight service on this route was not introduced until June 1836, when two barrels of beer were transported. Although construction of the Leipzig–Dresden line had begun as early as 1833, it was not until April 1837 that a large crowd was able to watch a train depart. This line was not fully completed and put into operation until April 1839. A rare historical document from the pioneering days of rail transportation. Condition: II–III