Die Bruder Karamasow (The Brothers Karamazov)
Leipzig: Verlag von Fr. Wilh. Grunow, 1884.
First German edition, cloth issue published by newspaper Die Grenzboten as noted on half-titles and spines, published simultaneously with wrappered and red cloth issues, neither with half titles. Complete in four octavo volumes. Volume I: Half-title + TP + [v] - viii+1leaf + 1 - 271 + [i]-xxxii- publisher's ads on browned inferior stock; II: Half-title + TP + 1 - 272; III: Half-title + TP + 1 - 298; IV: Half-title + TP + 1 - 336. Original green cloth with gilt stamping and top edges, original dark green endpapers. In German, translated anonymously. Very Good with front hinges starting, a few light scuffs to bindings, bumped corners, light cup ring to front cover cloth of first volume, but internally clean, gilt nice and sharp. An attractive, unsophisticated set. The very first translation of Bra'tia Karamazovy [1879-1880] from the original Russian into any language, preceding the French version by four years and the English version by 28 years. The German public's interest in Dostoyevsky stemmed from the promotion and resounding success of 1882's German translation of Crime and Punishment. Scarce. No other copies currently for sale in the trade and no copies located outside of Europe in OCLC.
Price: $3,500.00