Richard Wagner a Bayreuth (Richard Wagner in Bayreuth [First French Version]

Chemnitz: Schmeitzner, 1877. first French edition. Wraps. Near Fine. The First French Edition of Nietzsche’s First Book on WagnerNIETZSCHE, Friedrich. Richard Wagner a Bayreuth (Richard Wagner in Bayreuth [French Version], Schmeitzner, Chemnitz, 1877. TP + [1]-197 + [199] = Fautes d’impression, 12mo. First French Edition in Original Wraps (Schaberg 28). There is little documentation regarding the beginnings of the second French translation prepared by Marie Baumgartner. [The first of Schopenhauer als Erzieher was never published.] Certainly, both Nietzsche and Frau Baumgartner were confident that if they got Richard Wagner translated, Schmeitzner would be able to arrange publication.Marie Baumgartner wrote to Nietzsche on 11 October 1876—only three months after the book's original appearance in German—to say that: "tomorrow the last pages of the translation will be in the mail and any day now the correction sheets should begin to arrive. Schmeitzner told me today that the book will consist of 12 press sheets and should be published by the end of the month." In the same letter, she noted that "you will be interested to know that Schmeitzner is in touch with book publishers in Paris, Rome and Moscow as well as London." The publisher was looking to broaden his network by using Richard Wagner in Bayreuth as the springboard for a trans-European business expansion.For two months, nothing happened. Then on 18 December Nietzsche wrote to Schmeitzner to ask: "How is the French translation coming?" Schmeitzner's reply, a month later, announced that the translation was finally ready. "The first copy will go to Frau Baumgartner as soon as the copies from Berlin—where they are being printed—reach me, which should happen any day now." He also reported that the book would appear in Italian bookstores at the beginning of February and in German bookstores by mid-February. Frau Baumgartner wrote to Nietzsche two days later, having recently heard from Schmeitzner herself. She claimed the delay was neither her fault nor the publisher's but was because "the printer in Berlin did not think he had to keep his word."Nietzsche received his copy of Richard Wagner à Bayreuth on 31 January 1877. The book had been printed with green card cover which had text identical to the title page except for the addition of an ornate border. The back cover listed advertisements for the four Unconventional Observations and for books by Overbeck, Widemann, and Fritze. The book's spine read: "Nietzsche: Richard Wagner à Bayreuth." and copies sold for 2.7 marks each. The title page included listings for bookseller/publishers who had become part of Schmeitzner's expanding European network from Paris, Turin, St. Petersburg, and London.The exact number of copies printed is uncertain. When Schmeitzner finally sold his stock of Nietzsche's books in 1886, he listed 967 remainders of the French translation. It is unlikely—but not impossible—that only 33 copies would have been sold, especially considering that this number would necessarily include the distribution copies for the translator, the author, and reviewers. On the other hand, it is highly unlikely that the French version would have sold more than the 232 copies of the original German version which had been purchased by that time. In all likelihood, Schmeitzner printed either 1,000 or 1,100 copies of this edition.The next day, Nietzsche wrote to Marie Baumgartner congratulating her on her skill as a translator and adding: "We all think that Schmeitzner was very clever. The steamship of the translation may well overtake the cumbersome freighter of the original." Next, he congratulated Schmeitzner, saying: "Let us hope that Europe will be kinder than Germany." Europe was not. (Schaberg, The Nietzsche Canon, pp. 51-53)CONDITION: An uncut & unopened copies in original wrappers. Near fine with Naumann stamp to front, housed in custom clamshell box. Minor if any edgewear. Very good to near fine.

Photos Available upon Request; CONDITION: An uncut & unopened copies in original wrappers. Near fine with Naumann stamp to front, housed in custom clamshell box. Minor if any edgewear. Very good to near fine.