Johann Caspar Lavater, Ausgewählte Werke, Ergänzungsband

The Zurich Central Library owns extensive holdings of Lavater's written legacy, including above all large parts of his correspondence. This shows the infinitely broad spectrum of Lavater's relationships, which range from very modest existences to the greats of the spirit and nobility of his time, and with whom the Zurich native maintained contacts from St. Petersburg to London and from Copenhagen to Rome. The access to this inexhaustible fund of Lavater's most personal statements about his faith, his works, about people and events, is as important as it is productive for all statements about him. Lavater stands before us as a genius of communication par excellence, moreover as an outstanding, provocative spirit of the 18th century. His letters are probably the most telling testimony to the importance of the city of Zurich at the time of the Enlightenment.

The index of Lavater's estate, published after the register of letters, offers a good overview of his fascinating life's work. In addition to manuscripts and materials relating to his most important works, it includes autobiographical writings and diaries, travel reports, political writings, sermons, speeches, physiognomic rules and judgments, as well as songs, poems and poetry.