Offered for sale by Adam Langlands of 'Shadowrock Rare Books' - for more information please contact him via email at adamlanglands@gmail.com

Jonathan Beiler FISHER (1878-1953, the ‘travelling Amishman’). Around the World by Water and Facts Gleaned on the Way. [colophon: Middlebury, Indiana: printed by the Independent Press, ] 1937. Small octavo (7 5/8 x 5 1/4inches; 193 x 134mm). Pp. [i-ii; 1-]7- 317[-322]. Occasional illustrations. Original light brown wrappers, illustrated title in dark brown on the upper cover, ‘useful and interesting information’ on the lower (binding very slightly soiled). An excellent copy of this eccentric, but charming and enthusiastic work by the ‘travelling Amishman’, offering ‘interesting reading matter for city or country folk, both old and young, teacher and pupil alike; approximately one hundred thousand words of descriptive narrative’ (lower cover). Jonathan Fisher: Traveling Amishman ‘Jonathan B. Fisher of Bareville, Pennsylvania was perhaps the most adventuresome Amishman of all time. As a farmer, cheesemaker, and farmers' market merchant, Fisher led a typical Old Order life. But Jonathan Fisher also harbored an intense desire to explore the world and, as a young man, visited many places in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fisher also took several longer trips and wrote two books about his adventures. In 1908 he sailed for Europe to learn about European methods of cheese production. … In 1934 Fisher set off again-this time on an around-the-world tour during which he hoped "to take a peep into foreign lands, to note the customs of their natives, the beauty of their sceneries; [and] also, to glean about facts one may learn on the way." By the time he left on this second voyage Fisher was married, but according to contemporary newspaper accounts his wife Sarah (Farmwald) Fisher "elected to stay at home." Fisher sailed from New York City, down the east coast to Cuba, then through the Panama Canal and north to Portland, Oregon. Next he headed for Japan, then China, Singapore, and Indonesia. After visiting Sri Lanka and India, he traveled through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to Egypt. Fisher remained in the Holy Lands for six months of touring biblical sites. Eventually he turned home, but not without stops in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and England. In each place his ship docked, Fisher observed people and customs, asked questions, and wrote in his diary. Fisher kept two thick autograph books while on this world tour, and people from many countries signed their names or penned short sayings in their native languages and scripts. Fisher described this second journey in Around the World by Water and Facts Gleaned on the Way. He described local history and architecture, as well as his impressions of other cultures and ethnic groups. For example, the tea produced in Indonesia was superb, he thought, and the travel in Japan was safer than in many parts of the United States. Even at age 74, Fisher could not be kept at home. In 1952, he went to Europe again, this time under the auspices of the relief organization Church World Service… Jonathan and Sarah had three daughters and a foster son. Though interested in learning about other people, he also shared his own convictions and "carried religious pamphlets, which he gave to everyone he met." While on his global trip, he visited the U.S. Navy base in San Diego and engaged officers in a discussion of peace and conscientious objection to war. A remarkable figure, Jonathan Fisher enjoyed people and learning about other cultures. Sharing his experiences through books, Fisher widened the worlds of many Amish readers, as well.” (Steven M. Nolt ‘A History of the Amish: third edition’ , 2015)