Friedrich Gotthelf Ernst Appelt’s private library.
In the early 1930s, due to financial difficulties caused by the depression years, Friedrich Appelt was forced to sell books from his private library. He offered many of them to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Australia, the strand of Lutheranism Friedrich belonged to, and one of a number of Lutheran synods in Australia at that time.
To prepare the books for sale, he made a detailed list of the title of each edition and its asking price. We do not know the extent of his library, or indeed what proportion of his library was put up for sale and how much was left intact.
Despite these unknowns, the meticulous, type-written list recorded by Friedrich gives us an unparalleled view into the intellectual sensibilities and curiosities of Friedrich, and possibly his wife and family, as well as the professional manuals and guidebooks necessary for the pursuit of business at the Appelt General Store in Eudunda.
It must be stressed, of course, that the date of acquisition for many of the editions is unknown; some may have only been acquired by Friedrich following Emilie’s death in 1922, thereby limiting the applicability of the list with the aim to become more familiar with Emilie.
The list went as follows:
Mr F.G.E. Appelt of Eudunda has presented his library to Synod. The books are herewith offered for sale at the prices indicated. Please send orders to Rev. F. Hassold. Eudunda. S.A.
Prices do not include postage or freight.
Farmers’ Encycl. for Farm and Home (German) 1/6
English-Tamil Dictionary 2/6
Dictionary, Talkers (pronouncing) 1/
Bible – German (damaged) 6d
Lobstein, Taegliche Andachten (damaged) 1
Kiez(?), Goldkoerner und Perlen 6d
Thorpe, Textbook of Science Quantit. Chem. Anal. 1/
Palmzweige 6d
Collins, Inorganic Chemistry 6d
Hach’s Botany 6d
British Pharmocopaea 3 vols @ 6d 1/6
Habermans Gebete 6d
Fundamentals – 7 copies @ 3d 1/9
Beleuchtung Dr. Schneiders Broschuere 9d
Huebner – Breslau und Missouri 2/
Zorn, Die Vergebung der Suenden 9
Macauley, Lays of Ancient Rome 6d
Paul Gerhardt, Vier Leichenpredigten 9d
Walther, Rechte Gestalt 2/6
Gebetbuecher, Luthers und andere 3/6
Reiseharfe mit Noten 9d
Geschichte der Deutsch-franzoesisches Krieges 6d
Bunyan, Der Heiligen Krieg 1/6
Homeopathic Treatment of Infants 1/
Veterinary Counter Practice 1/
Keuster Bienenfreund 6d
Elementary Dispensing Practice by Ince 2/
The Prospector’s Pocketbook by G.A. Goyder 6d
Enquire Within upon Everything 6d
Sir Harry Rarlsleigh(?) vols I to III 1/6
Gottes Wort – Andachten von Scriver 3/6
Koch – Law und Gospel 3/
Petri – Der Glaube 2/
Der Deklamator – German and English 1/
Ehrendenkmal Treuer Zeugen Christi vols 1-3 12/
Christliche Kreuzschule – Andachten (Wudrian) 4/
Dallmann – Battle of the Bible with the Bibles 3/
Deklamierbuch – Gustmann(?) 2/6
Gerhards Betrachtungen 3/
Schachspiel – Dufresne 2/
Kleiner Gebetsschatz(?) 6d
Palmenzweige 2 @ 3d 6d
Lueckes, Der Burgerkrieg der Vereinigten Staaten 3/6
Kronprinz Wilhelms Erinnerungen 2/6
Weseloh – Herrlichkeit Gottes in der Natur 3/
Urquhart, Die Neuen Entdeckungen u. die Bibel
5 Baende £1
Goldkoener – Walther(?) Predigten 3/
Geistliche Gebetopfer – Kirch und Hausandachten 1/6
Die Silberne Kette (??) Hel.Hubner 3/
Fritz Reuter Bd. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 @ 1/- 5/
Schillers Werke 6 Bde 24/-
Blumenlese dere Neueren Literatur-Tanunda Zeitung 1/
Gott Segne Dich – Gedichtssammlung, Crull 3/6
Koehler – Englishe – deutsches Woerterbuch 9/6
Pieper – Kraft des Evangeliums 3d
Lessings Werke 3/6
Richter – Die Evangelischen Missionen 5/
Das Deutsche Liederlexikon – Haertel 7/6
The Leisure Hour 5/
Graebner – Geschichte der Lutherischen Kirche
Amerikas 6/
Altenburger Bibelwerk A.T. 2 Bde @ £1 £2
N.T. 2 Bde (beschaedigt) 2 B. £1-(?)
Bogatzky – Taegliches Hausbuch (Andachten) 2 B. 15/
Zorn – Taeglichen Andachten (beschaedigt) 2/
Zorn – Brosamlein 10/6
Familienbibel 7/6
Family Bible 7/6
Hundert – Memorable Years in America 2/6
Zorn – Der Heiland 7/6
Walther Hausandachten 2 Bde @ 13/6 27/-
Walther Postille (Epistel) 18/
Jeremias Gotthelfs Ausgewaehlte Werke 4/
Frommels Erzaehlungen 2/
Peters – Geheime Gesellschaften 14 Stueck @ 6d 5/
Willkomms Halte Was Du Hast 4 Stueck @ 6d 2/
Der Chiliasmus 5 Stueck @ 1/3 6/3
Zagels Allerlei 4 Stueck @ 1/ 4/
Moore – Veterinary Homeopathy 1/6
Druggist’s General Receipt Book 6d
For King and Fatherland – Episodes 3d
Magistrate’s Guide 6d
Nelson’s Home Comforts 6d
Hermannsburger Missionsblatt (1872, 77, 79) for 1/9
(The insertion of a ‘?’ indicates a character indeterminable from the primary source.)
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It is entirely plausible, that Emilie read the works of Friedrich Schiller and Gotthold Lessing, two giants of eighteenth-century German literature. She may also have read works by Fritz Reuter, a north-German novelist from the nineteenth century.
The ‘Appelt Library’ demonstrates a strong connection to Lutheranism, indeed, much of the literature listed above is theological in nature. For example, the library includes works from evangelical German theologian Julius Richter (1862-1940), and Rev. Dr. Carl Manthey Zorn (1846-1928), as well as as books explaining the Bible, providing daily prayer and devotion, and exploring God’s presence in nature and law.
One book by Jean Dufresne called Schachspiel (‘A Game of Chess’) proves Friedrich’s love of chess. Another by Thomas Babington Macaulay, called Lays of Ancient Rome, suggests an interest in Romantic poetry with classical overtones. The book Magistrates Guide reminds us of Friedrich’s role as a local magistrate and Justice of the Peace, while the various titles pertaining to homeopathy, chemistry, and the manufacture of medicine, remind us of the business he ran in Eudunda.
The list of books sold by Friedrich Appelt allows us to pull aside the veil of historical obscurity and understand his leisurely curiosities, his professional obligations, his deeply spiritual journey, and, quite possibly, that of Emilie too.