Briefe aus Nordamerika, von Johann Hostettler, gewesenen Taubstummenlehrer in der Bächtelen bei Bern.
Burgdorf: Langlois, 1837. First edition of this exceedingly rare 19th-century Swiss-Americana. 107 p. Possessor’s stamp (and notes in ink and pencil) on front free end paper (Alfred Niederhäuser). Binding somewhat worn, spine restored at head. Paper toned, light foxing throughout, brown stains occasionally. Overall in very good condition.
Briefe aus Nordamerika consist of four letters by the Swiss immigrant Johann (Hans) Hostettler. Hostettler, born in 1805, was a deaf-and-dumb teacher in Kalchstätten near Guggisberg, in Schwarzenburg District, and, together with her wife, emigrated to the United States in 1833. They arrived in Buffalo, New York from where they moved to Elk Creek and eventually settled in Middlesboro in Erie County, Pennsylvania, where Johann worked as a "tailor's merchant”. (Hostettler, n.d.)
Besides the letters about the everyday life in America, Johann sent two poems, which became popular patriotic songs in Switzerland, one of them “Der Guggisberger in Amerika” under the title “Amerikalied” or “Lied eines nach Amerika Ausgewanderten” appeared in various literary and ethnographic publication, first in 1855 (see Bauman, 1981 p. 155).
Extremely scarce, not recorded in any of the standard bibliographies. WorldCat locates only 2 copies, both in Germany.
Literarure: Baumann, M. P.: Bibliographie zur ethnomusikologischen Literatur der Schweiz: mit einem Beitrag zu Geschichte, Gegenstand und Problemen der Volksliedforschung. Winterthur: Amadeus, 1981.; Hostettler, U. (n.d.): Amerikalied. [online] Jhfa.net. Available at:
Price: €2,500.00