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837 - Nietzscheana – Dite Collection
See original version (German)

Estimate €6,000 - €7,200
Sale commission
Description
Nietzscheana – Dite Collection Nietzsche, Friedrich Ecce Homo. Afterword by Raoul Richter. With an illustrated double title page printed in gold and book decorations based on drawings by Henry van de Velde. Leipzig, Insel, n.d. (1908). 154 pp., 2 leaves (table of contents, colophon), 1 leaf in Lex-4° format. Original grey suede binding with gold-embossed, calligraphic title on front and spine and endpapers painted in gold (the spine slightly bleached and stained; the covers with minor scuff marks). Nietzsche’s autobiographical masterpiece, in the exclusive ‘Bank Directors’ Edition’ (Schaberg) published by Insel. – Schaberg 61a. – Schaberg, All Things Nietzsche, Cat. 16, p. 47. - Brinks, VdV 81. - Jacoby 58. - Sarkowski 1201 - Schauer II, 15 - Achilles Collection 26 (for VdV). - One of 150 copies of the special edition printed on Japanese paper (total print run 1,250). The introductory text ‘How One Becomes What One Is’, published from the estate, appears here in its first printing. - Henry Van de Velde was a great admirer of Nietzsche and, as director of the Weimar School of Applied Arts, was also in close proximity to the archive run by the philosopher’s sister. He had been commissioned to redesign Villa Silberblick, the archive’s headquarters. Against this backdrop, Van de Velde designed the bindings, as well as the illustrations, book ornamentation and typography for all three major Nietzsche editions published by Insel: in 1914, *Dionysos Dithyramben*; prior to that, in 1908, *Thus Spoke Zarathustra*; and the present volume, *Ecce Homo* – all of which are milestones in the German book art movement. - Provenance: 1. Bernhard and Hildegart Wördehoff, with an ex-libris mounted on the front flyleaf. 2. Boysen Bookshop, Hamburg, with the firm’s label mounted on the back endpaper. - With a few very small fox-spots; overall, an exceptionally well-preserved and collectable copy. Nietzsche’s autobiographical masterpiece, here in the illustrious ‘Bank Directors’ Edition’ (Schaberg) published by Insel. Featuring an illustrated double title page printed in gold and book decorations based on drawings by Henry van de Velde. In the original publisher’s grey suede binding with gilt calligraphic title on the front boards, and gilt brushed endpapers (the spine is slightly faded and stained; the boards show minor scuff marks). - For references, see above. - One of just 150 deluxe copies meticulously printed on premium Japanese paper, out of a total print run of 1,250, also featuring the first printing of ‘How One Becomes What One Is’, which was published posthumously from the philosopher’s estate. - The legendary Flemish architect and designer Henry Van de Velde, a profound admirer of Nietzsche, who was already serving as director of the Weimar School of Applied Arts at the time, enjoyed close access to the archive managed by the philosopher’s sister, particularly after receiving the prestigious commission to architecturally redesign Villa Silberblick, the archive’s premises. Against this backdrop, Van de Velde orchestrated the complete design – including bindings, ornamentation, illustration and typography – for a trilogy of bibliophilic Nietzsche editions published by Kippenberg’s Insel publishing house, comprising *Dionysos Dithyramben* (1914), *Also sprach Zarathustra* and the present volume *Ecce Homo* (both 1908), all of which stand today as definitive milestones in the German Buchkunstbewegung. - Provenance: Bernhard and Hildegart Wördehoff, whose ex-libris bookplate is mounted on the front flyleaf, as well as the Boysen Bookshop in Hamburg, retaining the firm’s discreet bookseller’s ticket on the rear endpaper. - Showing only a few negligible specks of faint foxing, this remains an exceptionally crisp, bright and internally very well-preserved copy of the highest collectable quality.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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