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an old book with a red cover sitting on a white surfacean old book with a picture of a man riding a horse
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844 - Nietzscheana – Dite Collection
See original version (German)

Estimate €7,500 - €9,500
Sale commission
Description
Nietzscheana – Dite Collection Nietzsche, Friedrich The Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music. With the publisher’s logo (‘Prometheus Unbound’) as a woodcut title vignette. Leipzig, Fritzsch, 1872. (III) IV, 143 (1) pp. 8°. Original rust-brown calico binding by the publisher with gold-embossed calligraphic title on the spine, covers blind-embossed with fillet frames and a floral medallion with corner pieces, as well as marbled edges on the reverse (protected by clear plastic film; minimal scuffing on the headband, the ends of the joints and the corners). First edition of Nietzsche’s first published book, here in the almost untraceable, and moreover unusually well-preserved, original calico binding. – Schaberg 20. – Schaberg, *All Things Nietzsche*, Cat. 16, p. 7. - Borst Collection 3167. - Brieger 1863. - Jacoby, p. 50. - Krummel I, 1. - Carter/Muir, p. 669. - Scheurleer I, 140. - WNB 251. - Wilpert/Gühring 1. - Nietzsche’s powerful plea for the necessity of art in life, fuelled by his enthusiasm for Greek tragedy, Schopenhauer’s philosophy and the music of Wagner—to whom he had also dedicated a preface—had been printed by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in a run of just 800 copies. Fritzsch sold 175 of these, in the wake of his bankruptcy, to Nietzsche’s second publisher, Schmeitzner, who in turn had to file for insolvency in 1886, whereupon Fritzsch, having re-established his business, bought back this remaining print run before, once again insolvent, to the printer-publisher Naumann, who stamped the title pages with his mark, as is the case here. - It is likely that only a few copies of this edition were actually distributed by Fritzsch in the present calico binding, which, according to Schaberg, is also mentioned in the publishers’ announcements. Slightly less rare are copies in a publisher’s paperback of various colours, featuring a cover title matching the title print, whilst also utilising the fleuron-decorated frame of the Kaliko binding. Copies described as having the original linen binding have been documented for us at auction only once (1972). Not in Nietzsche’s library at the HAAB in Weimar, nor in the libraries of the Nietzsche Documentation Centre in Naumburg/Saale or the Nietzsche House in Sils Maria. - Provenance: Bearing a small oval stamp from Naumann on the title page, along with a pencil note there (‘Auktion Rosen’) and a dated dedication (‘With heart for Gisela G., 1961”), as well as a purchase note (“... purchased from Paul Lehmann, Französische Str., 29 July 1913”) on the verso of the rear endpaper. - The title page is slightly stained at the bottom edge; there are isolated, minor foxing spots, particularly on the final pages; very narrow light edges throughout. Overall, a very clean copy of this milestone in German intellectual history. First edition, first printing of Nietzsche’s first published book, here in its original publisher’s calico binding, which is virtually impossible to find and, moreover, in an unusually good state of preservation. – For references, see above. - Nietzsche’s powerful plea for the necessity of art in life, fuelled by his enthusiasm for Greek tragedy, Schopenhauer’s philosophy and the music of Wagner (to whom he also dedicated a preface), was printed by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in a print run of just 800 copies. Fritzsch sold the remaining 175 of these, following his first bankruptcy, to Nietzsche’s second publisher, Schmeitzner, who in turn had to file for insolvency in 1886, whereupon Fritzsch (who had resumed business) bought back the same remaining stock, before becoming insolvent once again, handing it over to the printer-publisher Naumann, who stamped the title pages, as seen here, with his stamp. – Only a few copies are likely to have been bound in the present calico binding, which, according to Schaberg, is also mentioned in the publisher’s advertisements. Less rare are copies in the publisher’s wrappers of various colours, with a cover title matching the title page, whilst also featuring the fleuron-decorated frame of the calico binding. The binding described consists of a rust-brown calico cover over cardboard boards with a gilt calligraphic title on the spine, also featuring blind-stamped fillet frames and a floral medallion with corner pieces on each board, as well as marbled edges (protected by a transparent film, showing minimal wear around the headbands, the ends of the joints and the corners). – With this original binding, we have only been able to trace one other copy at auction (1972). Not in Nietzsche’s library at the HAAB in Weimar, nor in the libraries of the Nietzsche Documentation Centre in Naumburg/Saale or the Nietzsche-Haus in Sils Maria. - Provenance: Bearing Naumann’s small oval stamp on the title page, as well as a note (‘Auktion Rosen’) and an inscription (‘With love to Gisela G., 1961”) both in pencil; furthermore, another pencil note regarding the purchase (“... gekauft bei Paul Lehmann, Französische Str. 29.7.1913”) on the reverse of the rear endpaper. - The title page is slightly stained at the bottom edge, with some minor foxing, particularly on the final pages; throughout, the margins are very narrow and show signs of age. Overall, a very clean copy of this landmark work in German intellectual history.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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