Also Sprach Zarathustra by Nietzsche, Friedrich - 1886

Leipzig: E. W. Fritzsch, 1886. First Edition. Half Calf. Fine. 8vo, 24 by 16 cm, 9.25 by 6.50 inches. 114, [4], 113, [4], 117 pp. First edition, second issue, in which the first three of four parts of Nietzsche's abstract novel were collected, with new title page printed by C. G. Roder, and published in late 1886. With all points mentioned by William H. Schaberg in "The Nietzsche Canon", p. 218 other than wraps now replaced with very handsome half calf over gray boards binding, and in part three, leaf with Inhalt (table of contents or p. 119) not included. In essence, the parts herein are probably of the first issue other than the addition of half-titles and the like. For instance, the "1" on the bottom of the first page of Part III was weak or non-existent in many copies of its first issue and thus is the case here. Extremely scarce early Nietzsche in any state, owing to the checkered, conflict-ridden publishing history of this and other works by Nietzsche. It was during the issuance of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" that Nietzsche had a complete falling out with his publisher, Ernst Schmeitzner, who issued the first three installments of the work separately between 1883 and 1884, before going bankrupt in 1886. Fritzsch, who had published for Nietzsche earlier, ended up buying up the full Nietzsche catalog and stock from Schmeitzner and was the first to issue the three parts together in 1886. (The fourth and final installment of "Zarathustra" was first distributed in May 1885 (45 copies) but was not issued to the public until March 1892.) Other than one small stain on rear cover and a light scuff here or there, the half calf over boards is in fine condition. A few minor chips on original title page, and since all leaves were not cut even, there are inevitable tiny closed tears or chips on those leaves that protrude ever so slightly more than the others. Some browning of leaves, most pronounced on the title. Otherwise tight and clean.