"KIERKEGAARD, S.MareMagnum
(KIERKEGAARD, SOREN).Biblio.com
I. A: Ogsaa et Forsvar for Qvindens höie Anlæg. II. B: Kjøbenhavnspostens Morgenbetragtninger i Nr. 43 III. B: Om Fædrelandets Polemik IV. S. KIERKEGAARD: Til Hr. Orla Lehman. printed in: Kjøbenhavns flyvende Post Interimsblad Nr. 34 76 82/83 . - VERY RARE FIRST PRINTINGS OF KIERKEGAARD'S FIRST FOUR PUBLICATIONS
1836réf. 62102Kjøbenhavn 1834-1836. Large 4to. Interimsblade i.e. Interim Papers 1-100 with the joint title-page and the contents leaf bound in a very nice contemporary brown half calf with gilt spine and marbled paper over boards. Spine with wear and hinges and corners bumped. Edges of boards with wear. Occasional brownspotting throughout but all in all a fine and well preserved copy. Each “Interimsblad” takes up 4 pp. Kierkegaard’s contributions: I: ab. 1 p.; II: 2 3/4 pp.; III: 4 pp.; IV: 4 pp. Very rare first printings of Kierkegaard’s first four publications including the very first publication in Kierkegaard’s own name which constitutes a true milestone in the history of Kierkegaard’s opus as does of course his very first publication. KIERKEGAARD’S VERY EARLIEST publications are the papers that he publishes in Kjøbenhavns Flyvende Post before he publishes his famous first book which is a polemic attack on Hans Christian Andersen. The first and fourth of these earliest periodical publications are arguably the most important being the very first thing Kierkegaard publishes and the very first publication in Kierkegaard’s own name respectively; but all these four earliest papers Himmelstrup 123 and 4 are significant 23 and 4 dealing with contemporary press issues primarily freedom of press. Danish politics in the 1830’es was dominated by the slow implementation of rules for election for and assembly of the Estates of the Realm. But as they were only advisory the papers and periodicals were not allowed to publish their opinions. In response to this a liberal opposition arose around the two polemic papers Kjøbenhavnsposten The Copenhagen Post and Fædrelandet The Fatherland. The first point on the agenda for the Liberals was the fight for freedom of the press and the abolishment of censorship. This fight for freedom of the press was something that found resonance with Copenhagen academics and it stirred up a lively activity in Copenhagen. In 1835 active Liberals had encouraged King Frederik VI to support freedom of press but had received an answer stating that he alone was able to evaluate what was truly the best for the people and the state. After this answer from the king the “Society for the Correct Use of the Freedom of press” was founded by moderate liberals and young liberals and at the end of the year almost 2.300 members had joined. It was in the midst of all this that the 21-year old Søren Kierkegaard then a student of theology had his debut with political-literary articles in Kjøbenhavns flyvende Post in Interimsbladende which were published separately. But as opposed to the predominantly liberal views of almost all other contributors Kierkegaard’s articles expressed distinctly conservative views. His first publication Også et Forsvar for Qvindens høie Anlæg Also a Defense of the High Abilities of the Woman constitutes an unpolished ironic apology for the liberation of women. This article is published in December 1834 and is signed “A.”. As opposed to the following next three articles this does not deal with freedom of press. Kierkegaard’s three following publications however all concern the question of freedom of press and constitute satirical polemics against the two liberal papers Kjøbenhavnsposten and Fædrelandet against Orla Lehmann the upcoming star of the liberal youth and against all liberals in general. These three articles were published in February and April 1836. The two first are signed “B.” and the third signed “S. Kierkegaard” constitutes the very first publication in his own name. As is well known the names under which Kierkegaard later publishes come to play a significant role in his authorship and represent an extremely thorough and well-thought-out construction. The foundation of this play with the reader is thus laid in the present publications in which he begins to develop the style for which he later gained worldwide renown. The “names” A and B under which he here publishes will most famously be used again in Either- Or Part one of which consists in “A.’s Papers” and Part Two in “B.’s Papers Letters to A.” Common for all four of his first publications is the attempt at polemic and satirical power at literary elegance and at a masterful and ceremonious critique of the prose of the opponent – all dominant traits in his later writings. Kjøbenhavns flyvende Post The Flying Post of Copenhagen was one of the most important and most widely read cultural and literary periodicals of the period. It was edited and run by Johan Ludvig Heiberg 1791-1860 arguably the most famous cultural person during the Danish Golden Age. He played a more significant role than any other author or thinker during this period and was the leading character of literature and philosophy in the 19th century. He introduced many German thinkers to Denmark most importantly Hegel – who Kierkegaard would later oppose – and he was part of almost all intellectual discussions of the Danish Golden Age. He was also a patron for many leading figures of the era. Interestingly several people thought that the first of the articles on the freedom of the press was written by Heiberg. This was of dubious merit to Kierkegaard himself as he was opposed to the circles around Heiberg and the Hegelian environment but it was still this article – and this miscomprehension – that gave him a claim to fame. Another paper claimed that this “priceless” article had been written by Heiberg himself who “had written many witty things but never anything as witty as this.” Also Kierkegaard’s professor of philosophy Poul Martin Møller to whom Kierkegaard was very devoted and to whom he dedicated Begrebet Angest the only person outside of his family that Kierkegaard ever wrote a printed dedication for loved the article and assumed that Heiberg had written it. “He Kierkegaard had a lifelong antipathy toward the press though he himself published reviews in various papers. His mistrust of the press as a legitimate organ of communication was based on several observations one of which was that the press was the voice of the masses rather than that of the individual. He viewed that voice with great skepticism and sarcasm in later years averring that the crowd. even if technically correct. is wrong by the very fact of being the crowd. The truth can only be stated and practiced as individuals especially as individuals before God. Admittedly Kierkegaard’s view of the masses was not well developed at this juncture.” D. Antony Storm. Himmelstrup: 1 2 3 & 4. The present copy is no. 1 in Girsel's "Kierkegaard" The Catalogue which can be found here. hardcover
