GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). Rameau's Neffe. Ein Dialog von Diderot. Leipzig: G. J. Göschen, 1805.

First edition in any language of Diderot’s satirical dialogue, translated by Goethe into German. Begun around 1761-1762 and revised in the early 1770s, the work remained unpublished during Diderot’s lifetime. Its original French manuscript was moved to Russia before being transported via Schiller to Goethe in Germany for translation, and was then lost. The first French edition – a re-translation of Goethe’s work back into French – appeared in 1821, and Diderot’s original French text was not published until 1891, soon after its rediscovery in Paris. Hagen 297.

Octavo (171 x 105mm). Errata leaf and advertisement leaf at rear. Contemporary mottled half calf, spine gilt, green leather lettering-piece (short split along upper joint, corners lightly rubbed). Provenance: ‘Dellagia’ (early inscription on endpaper).

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