Gedichte (rare first private printing)
Book Description
First edition. Hannover. Privately printed. Original paper boards, with label to spine. pp [ii], 186 [4] (blank), [8] (List of subscribers), foxing, particularly to opening pages. Eckermann (1792-1854) became well-known as Goethe s amanuensis, and the author of Gespraeche mit Goethe, which was one of the most important works of literary biography of the nineteenth century. A self-made man, these poems were produced and published by him when he was in his final year as a mature student at the Gymnasium in Hannover. It was through his writings that he was able to attract Goethe s attention, and he eventually became associated intimately with him for the final decades of his life. In this, the very rare first production, he publishes a number of poems, divided into Lieder (pages 5-61); Vermischte Gedichte (65-120); Sprueche (123-137); Epistel (141-182). There is clear evidence of his talents, particularly in the Lieder; Der Abend feiert, das Wasser rauscht, Ich wandle im Garten allein, Den fernen Tönen der Liebende lauscht, Bei stillem Abendschein (Liebesdrang, page 28). The subscribers are drawn from a wide geographical range, including Altona, Bremen, Dresden, Goettingen, Hamburg, Hannover, and so on. A true rarity, examples in the UK only in the BL, and Oxford.
Author
[GOETHE] ECKERMANN, Johann Peter.
Date
1821
Publisher
Privately printed
Condition
Good
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