Herman H. J. Lynge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 13, 1822 |
| Died | May 12, 1897 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Awards | Knight of Dannebrog |
Herman Henrik Julius Lynge (November 13, 1822–May 12, 1897) was a Danish antiquarian bookseller. He continued and owned the first antiquarian bookshop in Scandinavia, now “Herman H. J. Lynge & Søn A/S”.
Lynge was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the son of a bookbinder. At a very young age, before he was even confirmed, he began his apprenticeship as a bookseller, and the shop in which he took his education was carefully chosen by his father, Henrik Berndt Lynge. His master was Christian Tønder Sæbye (1789-1844), who had started his bookshop, initially a second-hand shop focusing on books, in 1821 on Gothersgade 26. After his apprenticeship, Lynge continued to work in the company, and when Sæbye died in 1844, the young man, only aged twenty-two, took over as manager of the bookshop, which was still owned by the Sæbye family. In 1853 Lynge was able to buy the bookshop from the family at the price of 1,000 rix-dollars, and at the same time he took out a trade licence as a bookseller. In the first years the cholera was harrying Copenhagen, and Lynge is said to have done great business at the time due to the large number of private libraries offered for sale; he was the only proper “antiquarian bookseller” in Denmark, and he often spited the danger of infection and personally collected the large number of books in the homes of the ill.
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur. Diarrhea can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This may result in sunken eyes, cold skin, decreased skin elasticity, and wrinkling of the hands and feet. Dehydration can cause the skin to turn bluish. Symptoms start two hours to five days after exposure.
When N.C. Ditlewsen died in 1853, Lynge also bought his stock and took over his locations in Købmagergade 45. From the advertisement section in the Copenhagen Directory of 1856 it is known that the company, in the beginning called “Herman H.J. Lynge (Sæbyeske Boghandling)” and a few years later merely “Herman H.J. Lynge”, had a stock of antiquarian books amounting to 80,000 volumes among which were “many ancient prints, rarities, beautiful reprints, magnificent copies etc.” Due to his knowledge and the considerable size of the bookshop, Lynge had connections to almost all libraries and collectors at the time, and he supplied numerous Danish and foreign libraries with books. From the very beginning he took part in book auctions, and it is now widely accepted that it was probably him and his staff, who made the auctioneer’s sales record of the library of Søren Kierkegaard, when he died in November 1855. Doubt has been raised as to this conclusion, due to the catalogue not being especially well made, and knowing the thoroughness and knowledge of Lynge it sounds improbable that he should have made a catalogue, which is far from perfect. However, the catalogue could be bought at “Herman H.J. Lynge”, and it is difficult to see, who else would have been able to finish such a catalogue in the very short amount of time that passed between the death of Kierkegaard and the auction.
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christendom, morality, ethics, psychology, and the philosophy of religion, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony and parables. Much of his philosophical work deals with the issues of how one lives as a "single individual", giving priority to concrete human reality over abstract thinking and highlighting the importance of personal choice and commitment. He was against literary critics who defined idealist intellectuals and philosophers of his time, and thought that Swedenborg, Hegel, Fichte, Schelling, Schlegel and Hans Christian Andersen were all "understood" far too quickly by "scholars".
In 1871 Lynge attracted much attention, when he sold a huge Holberg collection of 425 works to the book collector F.S. Bang, who donated the collection to Sorø Akademi, where it still is today. Even more astonishing, though, was the fact that after his death it was discovered that he had actually succeeded in creating another collection of Holbergiana, this time consisting of 880 items. Business was going extremely well for Lynge and in 1868 he had to move to larger locations, this time to Valkendorfsgade 8.
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque. Holberg is considered the founder of modern Danish and Norwegian literature, and is best known for the comedies he wrote in 1722–1723 for the Lille Grønnegade Theatre in Copenhagen. Holberg's works about natural and common law were widely read by many Danish law students over two hundred years, from 1736 to 1936.
Lynge was a member of several literary and scientific academies, was awarded the Danish and the Swedish gold Order of Merit, and was appointed Knight of the Swedish Vasaorden. When he turned 70, he was awarded the chancellery-title, a Danish title (Kancelliråd), which was a great honour received by few.
When the famous Danish poet, Christian Winther, was short of money, Lynge bought a selected collection of his best books, paid them in cash, as he always did, and then wrapped up the books, until Winther was able to buy back the books at the same price. He also donated books to libraries, for instance in 1864 when he presented the Danish Royal Library with a copy of the New Testament, which had belonged to Kierkegaard and had his handwritten notes in it. Due to his large amount of important and rare scientific books, he was an important person in the scientific environment in Denmark, and often lent a scientist valuable works necessary for scientific studies, but too expensive for the person to buy, though sometimes the book was not handed back. He also willingly lent pictures from his large collection to exhibitions and for the use of illustrations. Lynge was an eager collector, and his collection of coins was especially well known. He also collected medals, paintings, graphic art and portraits.
Rasmus Villads Christian Ferdinand Winther, was a Danish lyric poet.
The New Testament is the second part of the Christian biblical canon, the first part being the Old Testament, based on the Hebrew Bible. The New Testament discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christianity. Christians regard both the Old and New Testaments together as sacred scripture. The New Testament has frequently accompanied the spread of Christianity around the world. It reflects and serves as a source for Christian theology and morality. Extended readings and phrases directly from the New Testament are incorporated into the various Christian liturgies. The New Testament has influenced religious, philosophical, and political movements in Christendom and left an indelible mark on literature, art, and music.
The “Old Lynge” died in 1897, and in the D.B.L. (Danish Biographical Lexicon) he is characterized as “the first proper antiquarian bookseller in Denmark. As a role-model his importance to the development of the antiquarian book trade in Denmark has been huge” and “he raised the trade above the average level and gave it a position that had previously been lacking.” It is told that there was not a question about books that he could not answer immediately.
The son of the old Lynge, Herman Johannes Vilhelm Lynge, had been working in his father’s bookshop since his confirmation. In 1892 he became an associate, and the company changed its name to “Herman H.J. Lynge & Søn A/S”. When his father died, Lynge Jr. took over the business, in spite of his immense interest in scientific zoology. Lynge Jr. continued the tradition of his father perfectly and from an advertisement it is evident that early on he had increased the stock to 300,000 volumes. He moved the bookshop to larger locations across the street in Løvstræde. Lynge Jr. was also known as a very knowledgeable and generous man, and he enhanced the scientific profile of the bookshop. Due to his encountering so many scientists in the bookshop, his interest in zoology was only increased, and he actually succeeded in becoming an international authority in the field of molluscs and tropical mussels, mainly specializing in the left-oriented snails. Due to his expertise, he was assigned to investigate the collection of these snails brought home from the Danish expedition to Siam (1899-1900), and in 1909 his main work appeared: Marine Lamellibranchiata, containing five plates and a map and written in English. Lynge Jr. was also honoured for his merits and was announced Knight of Dannebrog. His principle of business was to “solve any assignment from best conviction”.
Zoology is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. The term is derived from Ancient Greek ζῷον, zōion, i.e. "animal" and λόγος, logos, i.e. "knowledge, study".
Mussel is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.
The Order of the Dannebrog is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank who formed a single class known as White Knights to distinguish them from the Blue Knights who were members of the Order of the Elephant. In 1808, the Order was reformed and divided into four classes. The Grand Commander class is reserved to persons of princely origin. It is only awarded to royalty with close family ties with the Danish Royal House. The statute of the Order was amended in 1951 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the Order.
Herman J.V. Lynge’s son, Flemming Lynge, worked in the bookshop for a while, but his interest in the theatre was too great, and he did not continue the family tradition, but became a writer. In 1932 Lynge sold the bookshop to Axel Sandal (1885-1974), who already owned the bookshop “C.A. Reitzel”. Lynge continued to be connected to the bookshop until he became too old and had to retire. He died in 1945, aged eighty-two. The leader of the bookshop immediately became Arne Stuhr, who continued his leadership until 1974, when the old bookshop was bought by Käthe and Max Girsel, who, in 1978, moved the shop to Silkegade 11, where it still is today, continuing the strong tradition of Lynge. The bookshop has always been placed in the centre of Copenhagen.
Poul Martin Møller was a Danish academic, writer, and poet. During his lifetime, he gained renown in Denmark for his poetry. After his death, his posthumously published fiction and philosophical writings were well received. He also devoted several decades of study to classical languages and literature. While serving as a professor at the University of Copenhagen, he was a mentor to the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
The Royal Library in Copenhagen is the national library of Denmark and the university library of the University of Copenhagen. It is among the largest libraries in the world and the largest in the Nordic countries. In 2017 it merged with the State and University Library in Aarhus to form a combined national library. The combined library organisation is known as the Royal Danish Library.
Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookwomen, or bookmen. The founding of libraries in 300 BC stimulated the energies of the Athenian booksellers. In Rome, toward the end of the republic, it became the fashion to have a library, and Roman booksellers carried on a flourishing trade.
Lynge is a family name of Danish and Swedish origin. The name is pronounced [ˈlyŋɡə] in Swedish.
Villy Sørensen was a Danish short-story writer, philosopher and literary critic of the Modernist tradition. His fiction was heavily influenced by his philosophical ideas, and he has been compared to Franz Kafka in this regard. He was the most influential and important Danish philosopher since Søren Kierkegaard.
The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers is a non-profit umbrella organization of bookseller associations, with its legal location in Geneva, Switzerland. It federates 22 National Associations of Antiquarian Booksellers, representing nearly 2000 dealers in 32 countries. Antiquarian booksellers affiliated to the League adhere to the ILAB Code of Ethics, and the League aims to server as a global network for the rare book trade.
The Danish Antiquarian Booksellers' Association, is the premier Danish organization of professional antiquarian booksellers. It is the oldest league of antiquarian booksellers in Scandinavia as well as one of the oldest of its kind in the world, only preceded by the English ABA and the French SLAM. The purpose of the association has always been to standardize the descriptions of books, preserve and develop the trade and thereby the general recognition of it, represent the trade as an assembled unity in public and official contexts, making requirements for the members in order to raise the standard and generally uphold the trade. All ABF members are bound to adhere to the ILAB Code of Ethics.
Antiquarian science books are original historical works concerning science, mathematics and sometimes engineering. These books are important primary references for the study of the history of science and technology, they can provide valuable insights into the historical development of the various fields of scientific inquiry
Maggs Bros. Ltd. is one of the longest-established antiquarian booksellers in the world, established in 1853 by Uriah Maggs, born c. 1828 in Midsomer Norton, Somerset. All four of Uriah's sons eventually joined the business, taking over on his retirement in 1894.
Adolph Peter Adler, was a Danish theologian, writer and a pastor in Hasle and Rutsker, on the island of Bornholm, Denmark.
Robert Temple Booksellers is a British business that specialises in the sale of old and rare books by mail-order. Historically, they have been innovative in respect both of their business-model and in their use of emergent technologies. The bibliographical information given in all but their earliest catalogues appears to have been a major influence in determining the standard practices of many other bookselling firms in later times—in particular the provision of collations and the description of bindings.
Max Harzof known just as Harzof, was an American bookseller who was the owner of the Lexington Bookshop in New York. During his career, he handled many rare books, including items from the library of Herman Melville.
Diana Margaret Parikian was a British antiquarian bookseller.
James Robert Tyrrell, often referred to as Jim Tyrrell, was an Australian bookseller, art dealer, publisher and author. He enjoyed a career of seven decades in the booktrade and was esteemed in his era as the "doyen of Sydney booksellers". He wrote a standard history of early bookselling in Australia entitled Old Books, Old Friends, Old Sydney.
Albert Henry Spencer, often referred to as A. H. Spencer, was an Australian bookseller. He was a specialist in antiquarian bookselling and Australiana and established the Hill of Content bookshop in Melbourne, one of that city's "finest bookshops". He has been called "one of the last links with an heroic age of Australian bookselling and collecting".
Gads Forlag, formerly G. E. C. Gad, is a publishing agent in Denmark. It is ownd by G.E.C. Gads Fond, a publishing house based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bernard Hartmut Breslauer was a German antiquarian book collector, active in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Herman (Heiman) Jacob Bing was a Jewish-Danish educator and bookseller. He was a co-founder of Copenhagen's first Jewish school in 1703 and established a book shop in 1820 which was later continued by his sons Meyer Herman Bing and Jacob Herman Bing under the name H. J. Bing & Søn. His sons were also con-founders of the porcelain factory Bing & Grøndahl while his grandson Harald Bing was a co-founder of the newspaper Politiken.
Meyer Herman Bing was a Danish businessman. He was a co-founder of Bing & Grøndahl.
Authority control  |
|
|---|