Allgemeine Arbeiter-Zeitung. Organ für die politischen und sozialen Interessen des arbeitenden Volkes, zugleich Zeitung des Arbeiter-Vereins zu Frankfurt. (General Workers Newspaper. Organ for the political and social interests of the working people, at the same time newspaper of the Workers Association in Frankfurt). Nos. 1 - 5 May 18th through June 10th, 1848 [COMPLETE RUN - ALL PUBLISHED]
Frankfurt / Main: J. G. Müller & C. Adelmann, 1848. First edition. Softcover. Octavo. 8pp. each with continuous pagination, plus one folded "Pränumerationsschein." Five folded, uncut newsprint (rag paper) sheets representing five issues of the newspaper. Includes the rare enclosure "Pränumerationsschein," given to subscribers, in this case for the receipt of twenty-eight prepaid issues of the newspaper.
The Allgemeine Arbeiter-Zeitung (General Workers Newspaper) was edited by Eduard Pelz and Christian Essellen. It was first published May 18, 1848 though discontinued after five issues on June 10th, 1848. Printed and issued by J. G. Müller (No. 1) and C. Adelmann (Nos. 2 and 3), and commissioned to Friedr. König (Nos. 4 and 5) in Hanau. The newspaper was published biweekly with issues released on May 18th, 20th, and 24th. The editors were banished from operating in Frankfurt by now and, despite their confidence to continue publishing uninterruptedly, as expressed in the 3rd issue, had moved their operation to the nearby city of Hanau, where the fourth issue was released on June 7, 1848, and final issue on June 10, 1848.
Uprisings of the people had spread across Europe in 1848. In Germany they started in Baden-Baden soon after Friedrich Wilhelm IV promised a constitution, a parliament and the German unification. On May 18, 1848, coinciding with the first published issue of the Allgemeine Arbeiter-Zeitung, the Frankfurt Assembly held its first session with delegates from various German states, producing the so-called Frankfurt Constitution. It proclaimed a German Empire based on principles of a parliamentary democracy. Friedrich Wilhelm refused the imperial crown, and the ruling princes repressed the uprising with military force. The Frankfurt parliament was dissolved and the German Confederation reestablished by 1850. (History Of Western Civilization II)
Max Quarck (1860-1930), the German politician of Social Democrat Party (SPD) writes in "Die erste Frankfurter Arbeiterzeitung (The First Frankfurt Workers Newspaper)": 'A document of the political movement of the "storm-year" (Sturmjahr) 1848 in Frankfurt Main was... the first Frankfurt workers newspaper, published from May to June of the revolutionary year in five issues, of which the Frankfurt City Library owns one issue of late!'
Quarck's extensive description of the importance and the content of this newspaper can be found in the "Archiv für die Geschichte des Sozialismus (Archive for the History of Socialism)," volume 1925, pp. 122-141. And Dieter Schneider in "Zwischen Römer und Revolution (Between Römer and Revolution, 1969)", page 12, with an image, describes the newspaper: 'this is one of the few workers publications that emerged with the revolution of 1848, and one of the best edited.' Kirchner 7679 states incorrectly "Nos. 1 -7. Not mentioned by Friedlaender.
Issue 1: Contains an extensive introduction and, an article on the founding of the Frankfurt Workers Association polemic, a draft for a petition to the parliament to establish a 'workers committee, and a draft of the statutes;
Issue 2: A Declaration of Human Rights, an overview of the world news, a report of the Second General Assembly of the Workers Association in Frankfurt, and an announcement of the General Assembly of the Workers Association as well as a public meeting of the committee.
Issue 3: The contribution "Politics and the Working People, a report of the third general assembly of the Workers Association, a petition of the Workers Association to reject the admission of the delegate from the province of Posen to the German Parliament in order to protect the Polish independence.
Issue 4: An apology for the delay in publishing due to the closing of the newspaper offices and subsequent expulsion from Frankfurt, a report of the last three general assemblies of the Workers Association, a letter from the Workers Association in Cologne and the response, an article on the Frankfurt Bourgeoisie and their workers, a reprimand of the Heidelberger Hofrathszeitung, known for its hostile stance towards workers, and an editorial of the editor Christian Essellen regarding a parliamentary election.
Issue 5: Commentary on the lack of participation in workers' associations by the merchants, an overview of events in world politics, a political credo, and a note by indicating that a statement entitle "Open Protest against the Expulsion of the Newspaper from Frankfurt," drafted by the two editors of the workers newspaper, is available in all Frankfurt bookstores.
Text in German, Gothic Script. First volume with light creasing in upper foredge corner of cover. Some light age-toning of issues. Very good+ condition. Item #53799
Price: $3,500.00