One of only 200 copies for sale

Rilke, Rainer Maria (Trans. Vita Sackville-West and Edward Sackville West) ~ Duineser Elegien : Elegies From The Castle Of Duino

Hogarth & Cranach Press, London : 1931 : First UK printing

Translated from the German of Rainer Maria Rilke by V. Sackville-West and Edward Sackville West. The First edition in English. The First UK printing published by Hogarth & Cranach Press, London in 1931. 8vo, initials designed by Eric Gill, original vellum-backed boards, t.e.g., plain unprinted wrapper, with the publisher's slipcase. All as issued. Free from inscriptions. The original plain wrapper is complete and is toned to the spine and lightly marked. The plain card slipcase is also lightly toned with a little edge-wear. Some light spotting as usually encountered to the text, otherwise a Fine copy in the scarce original wrapper. One of the most beautiful books to bear the Hogarth Press's imprint, and one of the scarcest. Number ‘107’ of only 230 numbered copies printed at the Cranach Press on handmade Maillol-Kessler paper with the watermark of the Cranach Press and signed by both the translators, Edward and Vita Sackville-West (who were cousins) to the limitation page. English and German texts facing each other. Count Harry Kessler designed the format for the book. Eric Gill designed and personally cut the 20 wood-engravings for the initials. The Italic type was designed by Edward Johnson and cut by E. Prince and G. T. Friend. The paper was hand-made by Count Kessler and Gaspard and Aristide Maillol. The book was printed under the supervision of Count Kessler and Max Goertz. (Woolmer 268. Cross and Ravenscroft-Hulme A25 - noting that, in fact, 240 copies were printed, of which 40 were not for sale). Rilke started writing this collection of poetry in 1911-1912 during his stay at the Castle of Duino near Trieste, and it was finished and first published in 1922. In the translator’s notes, the Sackville-Wests mention that ‘Rilke himself considered the ‘Duineser Elegien’ as the climax of his work..’. A very handsome production and now extremely elusive in such condition.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Very Good++