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an old book with a black cover and gold speckles on itthe front cover of a book with a black and white title on it
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842 - Nietzscheana – Dite Collection
See original version (German)

Estimate €5,000 - €6,000
Sale commission
Description
Nietzscheana – Dite Collection Nietzsche, Friedrich The Gay Science. Chemnitz et al., Schmeitzner et al., 1882. 255 (1) pp. 8°. Contemporary half-leather binding with gold-embossed typographical and ornamental title on the spine, covers lined with Kiebitz paper and speckled edges on the reverse (spine with a few very small areas of cover damage; corners, edges and joints slightly bumped and scuffed, top edge discoloured by dust). First edition of Nietzsche’s major aphoristic work. – Schaberg 35. – Schaberg, *All Things Nietzsche*, Cat. 16, p. 25. – Borst 3539. - Jacoby p. 54. - Krummel X. - WNB 239. - Zimmermann 29. - Wilpert/Gühring 11. - The text, a precursor to *Thus Spoke Zarathustra*, comprises 342 numbered sections, including the famous statement ‘God is dead!’ (Aphorism 125) and the first mention of the concept of the ‘Superman’. - One of only 212 copies with the original, unaltered title page by Schmeitzer. Originally, 1,000 copies were printed by Teubner in Leipzig for Schmeitzner. Several years later, 788 of these remained and were taken over by Nietzsche’s first publisher, Fritzsch, following the publisher’s insolvency in 1886; Fritzsch presumably reissued the remaining stock with a modified title page. - Provenance: Printed ex-libris bearing the monogram ‘HB’ within a square frame on the front endpaper. - Collation: In Schaberg’s edition, the title page and the page bearing the chapter title ‘Scherz, List und Rache’ incorrectly placed outside the page numbering; cf. our copy and the digitised images from Nietzsche’s library at the HAAB, Weimar. - One of the additional publisher’s details on the title page reads ‘E. Steige’ without an ‘r’, as documented by Schaberg for some copies. - The front endpaper is missing. The corners of the title page and the rear endpaper show slight glue stains; the paper is slightly browned throughout; a few pages have very slight finger and dirt marks; the text pages contain some notes in pencil. Overall, a well-preserved copy of one of Nietzsche’s most influential books. First edition of one of Nietzsche’s key works and a precursor to his *Zarathustra*. Bound in contemporary half leather with gilt lettering and ornamental fillets on the spine; the boards are covered with powdered marbled paper and have speckled edges (the spine has a few very small defects; the corners, edges and joints are slightly bumped and scuffed; the top edge is dusty). - For references, see above. - Nietzsche’s principal aphoristic work, comprising 342 numbered passages, including the famous maxim ‘God is dead!’ (aphorism 125) and the first mention of the concept of the ‘Übermensch’. - One of only 212 copies with the original, unaltered title page by Schmeitzer. Originally, 1,000 copies were printed by Teubner in Leipzig for Schmeitzer. In 1886, a total of 788 copies remained unsold and were taken over by Nietzsche’s first publisher, Fritzsch, following Schmeitzner’s insolvency. Fritzsch presumably reissued the remaining stock with an altered title page. - Provenance: A printed ex-libris bearing the monogram ‘HB’ within a square frame is mounted on the front endpaper. - Collation: Schaberg incorrectly omits the title leaf and the leaf bearing the chapter heading ‘Scherz, List und Rache’. From the pagination, see our copy and the digitised copies in Nietzsche’s library at the HAAB, Weimar. - One of the additional publisher’s details on the title page reads ‘E. Steige’ without an ‘r’ at the end, as documented by Schaberg for some copies. - Missing front flyleaf. The corners of the title page and the rear endpaper show slight glue marks; the paper is slightly browned throughout; a few pages have very slight finger and dirt marks; both pastedowns contain some notes in pencil. Overall, a well-preserved copy of one of Nietzsche’s most influential books.
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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