J.A. Kalbs translation, 1st edition,1826 (ex. libris W. Schuermans)

In January 1670, 350 years ago, Spinoza’s Tractatus theologico-politicus (TTP) was published in the Dutch Republic. The book did not mention an author and a fictitious place of publication. Not exactly a convincing proof for the then much vaunted tolerance of that Dutch Republic…
The first translation of this writing was a Dutch one by Jan Hendrikszoon Glazemaker, one of Spinoza's friends. The publication of this Dutch-language version was postponed at the express request of Spinoza (caute!) and finally rolled off the press in 1693.
The first German translation was published in 1787, in full Philosophenstreit which brought Spinoza in the center of attention in Germany. The translator was Schack (Jacques) Hermann Ewald (1745-1822), Kantian and Freemason. The title of his version: Benedikt von Spinoza über Heilige Schrift, Judenthum, Recht der höchsten Gewalt in geistlichen Dingen und Freyheit zu philosophiren.
It was not until 1826 that a second German translation of the TTP saw the light, that of Dr. J.A. Kalb, further unknown to me: Theologische-politische Abhandlungen von Spinoza, Freye Uebersetzung und mit Anmerkungen begleitet, München, 1826.
Most of this edition was confiscated and destroyed by the Bavarian police. Perhaps that is why Kalbs translation was republished in Philadelphia (US) in 1838.

​Willy Schuermans

J.A. Kalbs Philadelphia edition, 1838.

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