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NIETZSCHE, Friedrich Wilhelm (1844-1900). Also sprach Zarathustra. Ein Buch für Alle und Keinen. Parts 1-3, Chemnitz: Ernst Schmeitzner, 1883-1884; part 4, Leipzig: C.G. Naumann, 1891.
Very rare first edition of ‘the most widely known of [Nietzsche’s] works’ (PMM). One of the most influential books of the late 19th century, Nietzsche's philosophical prose poem Thus Spake Zarathustra contains the highly controversial idea of the Übermensch (superman), through which Nietzsche's searing criticism of the culture of his times is expressed. He wrote the first three parts of Zarathustra over about a year from 1883 to 1884 at Rapallo near Genoa, at Sils-Maria in the Swiss Alps, at Rome, and at Nice. The fourth part was written at Menton during the winter of 1884-1885, and was privately published in 1885 in an edition of only 45 copies for private circulation to Nietzsche’s closest friends. This latter part is so rare that perhaps only half of the edition survive, and the present lot represents the earliest practically obtainable edition. Oxford Companion to German Literature (1976), 638-639; PMM 370.
Four parts bound in one volume, octavo (215 x 137mm), complete with 21pp. ‘Dionysos-Dithyramben’ at end. Portrait frontispiece (without half-titles). Contemporary black half morocco, spine gilt, red edges (front hinge cracked and slightly weak, extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: erased inscriptions on first title but with legible place of Trieste and date 15 February 1889 and clear inscriptions in same hand on fourth title with place of Pola (probably Pula, Croatia) and date 4 April 1892 – a few corrections to text in ink in pt 2 pp.6-7 and 93, and pt 3 pp.15 in part 2 – Jacob Dirnbock (Vienna bookseller’s label on rear free endpaper).
Very rare first edition of ‘the most widely known of [Nietzsche’s] works’ (PMM). One of the most influential books of the late 19th century, Nietzsche's philosophical prose poem Thus Spake Zarathustra contains the highly controversial idea of the Übermensch (superman), through which Nietzsche's searing criticism of the culture of his times is expressed. He wrote the first three parts of Zarathustra over about a year from 1883 to 1884 at Rapallo near Genoa, at Sils-Maria in the Swiss Alps, at Rome, and at Nice. The fourth part was written at Menton during the winter of 1884-1885, and was privately published in 1885 in an edition of only 45 copies for private circulation to Nietzsche’s closest friends. This latter part is so rare that perhaps only half of the edition survive, and the present lot represents the earliest practically obtainable edition. Oxford Companion to German Literature (1976), 638-639; PMM 370.
Four parts bound in one volume, octavo (215 x 137mm), complete with 21pp. ‘Dionysos-Dithyramben’ at end. Portrait frontispiece (without half-titles). Contemporary black half morocco, spine gilt, red edges (front hinge cracked and slightly weak, extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: erased inscriptions on first title but with legible place of Trieste and date 15 February 1889 and clear inscriptions in same hand on fourth title with place of Pola (probably Pula, Croatia) and date 4 April 1892 – a few corrections to text in ink in pt 2 pp.6-7 and 93, and pt 3 pp.15 in part 2 – Jacob Dirnbock (Vienna bookseller’s label on rear free endpaper).
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