Faustus, from the German of Goethe
by [Coleridge, Samuel Taylor] [Soane, George] Goethe, Johann Wolfgang
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Pasadena, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Boosey & Sons, 1821. First English language edition. First appearance of this controversial translation, over which translation attribution is still debated. Bound in twentieth century full calf with gilt to spine, measuring 279 x 226mm. Bound without half title, otherwise collating complete including frontis and 26 plates (27 plates in all): viii, 86, [2]. A Very Good+ to Near Fine copy with minimal scuffing and wear to corners. Typical light scattered foxing throughout. Small bookbinder's ticket to front pastedown; discreet library ticket to rear pastedown "From the Collection of David & Patricia Corey" (library auctioned 30 May 2018 in Norfolk). In all, an extremely pleasing example of this classic narrative of temptation.
Considered the first substantial translation into English of Goethe's work, controversy still exists over who deserves credit for it. Though Coleridge had begun a translation for John Murray in 1814, he declared that it was never completed. "In 1820, when demand was high in England for a translation to accompany Retzsch's iconic illustrations, George Soane answered the call with a series of excerpted captions. He was followed by Daniel Boileau, who contributed to the Boosey edition...both sold out quickly, but Thomas Boosey had initiated plans for a second edition of this version two months before the first edition appeared. He thus turned to Coleridge for 'friendly advice'...The new text was twenty-nine pages longer, and could be bound with the plates or separately as an original publication" (Burwick & McKusick).
Considered the first substantial translation into English of Goethe's work, controversy still exists over who deserves credit for it. Though Coleridge had begun a translation for John Murray in 1814, he declared that it was never completed. "In 1820, when demand was high in England for a translation to accompany Retzsch's iconic illustrations, George Soane answered the call with a series of excerpted captions. He was followed by Daniel Boileau, who contributed to the Boosey edition...both sold out quickly, but Thomas Boosey had initiated plans for a second edition of this version two months before the first edition appeared. He thus turned to Coleridge for 'friendly advice'...The new text was twenty-nine pages longer, and could be bound with the plates or separately as an original publication" (Burwick & McKusick).
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Whitmore Rare Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 5419
- Title
- Faustus, from the German of Goethe
- Author
- [Coleridge, Samuel Taylor] [Soane, George] Goethe, Johann Wolfgang
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First English language edition
- Publisher
- Boosey & Sons
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1821
- Keywords
- Men's wretchedness in soothe I so deplore, Not even I would plague the sorry creatures more.
Terms of Sale
Whitmore Rare Books
15 day return guarantee, with full refund if an item arrives damaged or not matching the description.
About the Seller
Whitmore Rare Books
Biblio member since 2009
Pasadena, California
About Whitmore Rare Books
We operate a retail shop in "Old Town" Pasadena open normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Half Title
- The blank front page which appears just prior to the title page, and typically contains only the title of the book, although, at...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Good+
- A term used to denote a condition a slight grade better than Good.
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...