Duino Elegies by Rainer Maria Rilke

Author: Rilke, Rainer Maria
Translators: Leishman, J.B. & Spender, S.
Title: Duino Elegies
Publisher: The Hogarth Press
Date: 1939 
Place: London 
Dimensions: 8vo. 22cm x 14.5cm 

160pp. 

Parallel German and English text. B/W Frontispiece of Picasso’s Saltimbanques

The first English translation of the Elegies was produced by Vita and Edward Sackville-West and published by their Hogarth Press in 1938, consisting of 238 copies, 230 in quarter vellum and printed on handmade paper. This is a new translation by J.B. Leishman and Stephen Spender and the first widely accessible English translation of Rilke’s late, grand work. E9(b) in Ritzer.

Near Fine in a near fine jacket, the jacket spine faded as is common with blue ink of the period. Orange boards, gilt titles to spine. Deep blue dust jacket, with a few white flecks to top panel and spots to lower panel. A small, blue spot to f.f.e.p. (jacket offsetting?) A few spots to the lower board, a 1mm shelfwear scuff to the top board edge. Bookplate of Michael Scott to front pastedown.