FR EN
der fall wagen, an old book with a black and white title
Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

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

Estimate €700 - €900
Sale commission
Description
Nietzscheana – Dite Collection Nietzsche, Friedrich The Case of Wagner. A Musician’s Problem. Leipzig: Naumann, 1888. Includes dust jacket. 4 leaves (title page, preface, running title), 57 (1, printer’s proof) pp. Large 8°. Original paperback with black cover title (spine later replaced, cover with some filled-in tears at the edges, uniformly browned due to the paper, some finger, water and dirt stains.) First edition of Nietzsche’s critique of Wagner as the composer of the ‘Germanic’ militarisation of the marching step. – Schaberg 54 and pp. 213ff. (with illustration on p. 215). - Schaberg, *All Things Nietzsche*, Cat. 16, p. 34. - Borst 3766. - Krummel XVII. - Jacoby p. 57. - Zimmermann 42. - Wilpert/Gühring 23. - Since the 1860s, Nietzsche had been engaged with Wagner’s music and person, initially as an admirer and friend, and ultimately as a critic, indeed an enemy of the composer, whom Nietzsche now portrayed as the ‘Germanic’ commander of an obedient audience ‘with long legs’. This dispute was to culminate, a few months after the publication of this work, in the pamphlet *Nietzsche contra Wagner*. - One of only 500 copies with the original title page. Naumann printed a further 500 copies with a modified title page, on which the year of publication had been removed and the addition ‘Second Edition’ included, although this edition was not actually published until 1891. - Some slight foxing in the margins and along the edges; browned throughout due to the nature of the paper. Overall, a solidly preserved copy of this rare work, seldom found in the delicate original paperback binding. First edition, first issue of Nietzsche’s critique of Wagner as the composer of the ‘Germanic’ militarised mentality. Original publisher’s wrappers with black cover title (spine replaced at a later date; cover with some restored minor flaws in the margins; time-stained throughout due to the paper, with minor finger and water stains and soiling.) – For references, see above. - Since the 1860s, Nietzsche had been engaged with Wagner’s music and persona, initially as an admirer and friend, and ultimately as a critic – indeed, an enemy – of the composer, whom Nietzsche portrayed in this essay as the ‘Germanic’ commander of an obedient audience ‘with long legs’. This dispute was to culminate just a few months later in the pamphlet *Nietzsche contra Wagner*. - One of only 500 copies with the original title page. Nietzsche’s publisher and printer, Naumann, printed a further 500 copies with a revised title page, from which the year of publication had been removed and the words ‘Second edition’ added, although this edition was not actually due to be published until 1891. - Some slight foxing in the margins and along the edges, with age-related discolouration throughout due to the nature of the paper. Overall, a well-preserved copy of this rare work, a rarity in its delicate original publisher’s wrappers.
See original version (German)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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
You may also like