76. Album amicorum of Viktor Geyer...

... student of the Selmecbánya Forestry Academy.
Little is known about the owner of the volume beyond the fact that, in 1909, he was appointed forestry auditor by ministerial decree and, in 1911, was promoted to forestry examiner. He retired with the rank of chief forestry councillor.
The first entry is in his own hand, followed by verses and humorous texts contributed by 102 fellow students, accompanied by several drawings, some coloured and executed with considerable skill. The album is a fascinating witness to the ethnic and linguistic diversity of the Kingdom of Hungary. Although Hungarian names predominate among the contributors, nearly as many German names appear, alongside numerous Slavic and several Romanian ones. It is noteworthy that the Croatian students mostly wrote in German, though one student from Eszék and another from Vinkovci (Szerém County) used Hungarian. The two Romanian contributors wrote in their native language, whereas the Ruthenian Porfir Sztripszky contributed his verse in Hungarian. Numerous Transylvanian Saxons are also represented; almost all wrote in German, though the relatives of the album’s owner from Brassó used Hungarian. According to the research of Gábor Vermes, the contributors included future royal chief foresters and members of parliament.
Founded in 1808, the forestry school of Selmecbánya became the foremost centre of forestry education in Hungary. In 1848, it was attached to the Mining Academy, established there in 1735, where it received its own independent chair. Until the territorial losses following the Treaty of Trianon, it remained one of the country’s finest institutions of higher education. Both the universities of Miskolc and Sopron regard it as their predecessor institution.
Slightly worn, gilt, contemporary cloth. Front board lettered: “Ballag már a vén diák” (The old student is leaving).
 
Starting price: 300 000 Ft