[PLATER Ludwik] - Historical and statistical description of the Grand Duchy of Poznań, 1846

[PLATER Ludwik]. Historical and statistical description of the Grand Duchy of Poznan. Edition by J.N. Bobrowicz. Leipzig 1846. published by the Foreign Bookstore. Pp. XXIV, 594, p . tab. fold. 1; 22cm.

Hardcover half leather with gilt on spine, ribbon bookmark. Good condition, minor loss/scuffing of binding on spine.

The most important 19th century historical-geographical study of W. Ks. Poznański.

Piece from the book collection of Piotr Aleksander Wereszczyński ex libris (1806-1879) on the front pastedown. In the midst of the 19th century struggle to regain lost statehood, the concept of establishing a Polish colony on the islands of Melanesia emerges Incorporating the idea into reality, would allow the safe nurturing of national consciousness away from the partitioning powers. Such an idea was presented by Piotr Aleksander Wereszczynski in his "Open letter with regard to the establishment of an independent Polish settlement in Oceania." Wereszczynski was born in 1806, his family had noble roots coming from Courland. His father was an aide-de-camp to the last king of Poland and held the rank of colonel. He provided his son with a good education. Wereszczynski was fluent in four languages. He served in the Russian army stationed in Courland and then Finland. At just 24 years old, he left the service and moved to St. Petersburg. He began to take an interest in geography, which was to pay off in his later knowledge of oceanic subjects. It was not until around 1870 that he was to read about islands in the Pacific Ocean that might be suitable for colonization. source: historia.org.pl

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