Utopiaansche Courant, Pleitrede, Utopiaansche Weekblad de WIBMER, Jean Baptiste Didier - 1819 - 1821: DUTCH UTOPIAN SATIRICAL PERIODICAL IN PARTS

Dutch Utopian Satirical Periodical in Parts

[WIBMER, Jean Baptiste Didier]. Utopiaansche Courant. No 1- 12 [all published]. Amsterdam, H. Moolenijzer, Dageraad, den 44 Stoeborn A[nn]o. 5569, 1819.

[together with:] Pleitrede van den schrijver der Utopiaansche Courant. Amsterdam, A. Vink, 1819.

[together with:] Utopiaansche Weekblad. No 1-14 [all published]. Amsterdam, A. Vink, 1820-1821.

Amsterdam, H. Moolenijzer, 1819-21.

Complete run of Wibmer's two satirical political journals, 1. 12 Folio broadsheets, (440 x 265mm), printed in 3 columns (one sideways), woodcut illustration at head; folded and unbound; 2. 8vo ((230 x 140mm), pp. 67, [3] blank, with engraved title; 3. 14 issues, 8vo (226 x 135 mm), continuous numbering, pp. 112, woodcut headpiece.

First edition of the complete run of two very rare Dutch satirical political periodicals. The Utopiaanische Courant, an outspoken, but cleverly disguised satire of the reign of William I of the Netherlands, who had returned from exile after the defeat of Napoleon, was Wibmer's first foray into utopian satire. After it was banned, he continued with the Utopiaanische Weekblad (the Utopian Weekly), again published anonymously. This consists of dialogues between the author and his Utopia- born servant Hans, who fills him in on the latest gossip.

Wibmer cleverly disguises his sharply satirical opinions of the protestant church, the Dutch monarchy of William I., and Dutch politics and society. He hides behind 'fictional' author figures, and cleverly demonstrates the possibilities of political criticism even in the harsh publishing climate of the 1820s.

Wibmer (1792 – 1836), originally trained as a minister of the Walloon Church, and was active as a hack writer, publishing a number of satirical periodicals and pamphlets. When the Utopiaanische Courant was banned, Wibmer owned up to his publication, with the result of being relieved of his church position. He was arrested together with the publisher and the printer Molenijzer and Brouwer) and charged with sedition. He successfully argued that his publication was absurd and had no clear meaning. He was acquitted, but then published his witty defense as Pleitrede (1819), as well as further issues of the Courant and the Weekblad. On 6 April 1820, soon after publication of Weekblad 12 he was arrested again, retried and convicted on a number of counts and sentenced to six years imprisonment. The final two issues (13 and 14) were published after his arrest.

He was released early, in 1825 and then published an account of his second arrest, trial and imprisonment, and continued with his satirical publications.

His clever self defense combines great self-assurance, stressing his dependence on publisher and printer, with his role as an independent who represents important social liberties.

For Wibmer see Laurens Ham, Door Prometheus geboeid (2015), pp. 47-83; Saakes 7 (1819) p. 56, p. 94; Saakes 7 (1819) p. 91 en (1820), p. 98; Knuttel no. 24841; OCLC: no copies outside of the Netherlands.