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56 KAFKA, Franz. Die Verwandlung (“Metamorphosis”). Leipzig: Kurt Wolff Verlag, 1915 His masterpiece, in original wrappers First edition, first impression. The first of Kafka’s masterpieces was issued both in boards and, as here, in wrappers. Sales were unimpressive; after a year or so the numerous unsold copies were stamped on the title pages with the official stamp of the German censors. This copy has no stamp and is therefore of the original issue. After learning that Ottomar Starke would provide an illustration for the book, Kafka wrote to the publisher in October 1915: “The insect itself must not be illustrated by a drawing. It cannot be shown at all, not even from a distance”. Octavo. Original cream paper wrappers printed in red and black, illustration by Ottomar Starke to front cover, red endpapers, edges uncut. Housed in a green cloth folding case. Bookplate to front endpaper. Spine toned, some foxing to wrappers, short tears to joints; a very good example of a notoriously fragile book. ¶ Dietz 26. £6,500 [153853] 57 KAFKA, Franz. In der Strafkolonie. Leipzig: Kurt Wolff, 1919 In the deluxe binding First edition, first impression, in the deluxe binding; one of 1,000 unnumbered copies of Kafka’s short story set in an unnamed penal colony, which he wrote in October 1914. The “relatively long time span between composition and first publication is due in part to Kafka’s dissatisfaction with the original conclusion of the story”, however, “Kafka revised the end of the text in November 1918” (Gray et al., p. 134).
In November 1916 Kafka presented a version of the text “at a public reading – something to which Kafka rarely agreed – at the Goltz Gallery in Munich” (ibid., p. 134). The first edition was issued in the present deluxe binding, a cheaper issue in brown leather, and in firm wrappers. The work was first translated into English by Eugene Jolas in 1941, published in the Partisan Review as In the Penal Colony . Octavo. Contemporary black half roan, spine lettered in gilt, marbled boards, cream endpapers, top edge gilt, others uncut, white silk page marker. Housed in a custom slipcase. Text in German. Printed in blue
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INEXHAUSTIBLE LIFE
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