"The Marvellous History of the Shadowless Man" by A. Von Chamisso and "The Cold Heart" by Wilhelm Hauff
Forster Robson. Toronto: The Musson Book Company Limited c1913. xiv, 73, [1] pages. 10 3/8 x 8 inches. Publisher's green cloth with gilt decorations in the original dust jacket and publisher's box. The scarce dust jacket is apparently trimmed at top and bottom edges, not surprising given the tight box fit. Dj is uniformly browned with original pale blue tone visible on the inside flaps. Dj illustration is printed in dark blue. Dj with a long spine fold split at the top edge, now reinforced with archival tape to prevent complete separation. The binding is wonderful, with some attractive oxidation to the gilt/copper decorations on the front panel. Top edges gilt. An occasional spot internally, but generally bright. Tipped in plates are poor quality paper resulting in toning to tissue guards. The rare box is worn at the extremities and split in several places. Near Fine / Good. Cloth. [29575]
This edition is dated only in the introduction by Rappaport (Sept 1913). Nicely illustrated with tipped in illustrations in color and monotone. Given the production values, scarce in the dust jacket, and even more so in the publisher's box. The binding has been seen with several variations: green cloth with gilt decorations (as here), green cloth with no gilt, and red cloth with gilt decorations (no known priority).
Adalbert Von Chamisso (1781-1838) was a German Poet, writer of fiction and botanist. "The Marvellous History of the Shadowless Man" appears to be based on his most famous work Peter Schlemihl which first appeared in Gernal in 1813. Bleiler's "Guide to Supernatural Fiction" calls the original "One of the classics of German Romantic literature...Peter Schlemihl sells his shadow to the Devil in exchange for an ever-filling purse of gold." The first English edition with plates by Cruikshank was published by Whittaker; London, 1823.
Wilhelm Hauff was also a German author known for "literary fairytales among the best in world literature, satirical fiction, early detective fiction. A favorite author in Germany, but not very well known in America." (Bleiler, p230). The first English-language collected edition of Hauff's works was published by G. Bell: London, 1890. Originally published in two parts, "The Cold Heart" tells the story of Peter Munk, a charcoal burner in the Black Forest, [who] obtains three wishes from the Glassman, the supernatural being who has power over the woods. He wastes them, gets more from a more terrible demonic being, and falls apart, eventually restoring his life with the help of Glassman. (Bleiler #770m)
A later printing of both works in a nice package with tipped in color plates and a nice binding. Scarce in the original publisher's box.
REFERENCES:
Bleiler, Everettt F; "The Guide to Supernatural Fiction", Kent State Univ. Press: 1983, p 111 and 230.
Price: $275.00