1794 — Two works bound in one: pp. 68; 256 + Portrait frontis. according to Evans the 2nd work should be bound first. Age stain. Browned. All signatures loose. Early ownership that appears to be Beiler (a common Amish name). Pages 107/108 torn without loss. 12mo. 180 mm. Loose in the original full leather binding; worn. Baron Trenck, Imprisoned in 1745, at Glatz under the guard of Heinrich August de la Motte Fouque. The King ordered that Friedrich had to sit on his own gravestone. In 1746 Trenck escaped. Then, in 1749, he obtained an employment as Rittmeister of an imperial cuirassier regiment in Hungary. He traveled to Russia where he, or so he claimed, became gentleman of the bed chamber in the court of Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia. He fell in love with a married woman, whose name he never revealed. In 1753, he went to Danzig for the funeral of his mother, but was again captured on the orders of Frederick II and was sent to the Citadel Magdeburg. To prevent him from attempting to escape, they fastened his hands, feet, and body with heavy chains and manacles. In 1763, he was released through the intervention of Empress Maria Theresa. During the next ten years he led an active life - writing literature, running a wine trading business, and travelling to England and France. His autobiography (1787) was first translated into English by Thomas Holcroft, an officer of the Royal Artillery. It became popular reading in the late 18th century, and must have been thrilling for its early Amish owner. Evans 27814. EVANS1
