Wedekind, Frank. Die Büchse der Pandora. Tragödie in drei Aufzügen [and] Erdgeist. Tragödie in vier Aufzügen [and] Die Zeichnungen von Alastair zu Wedekinds Büchse der Pandora und Erdgeist. [Pandora’s Box. A tragedy in three acts. [and] Earth-Spirit. A tragedy in four acts. [and] The illustrations of Alastair to Wedekind’s Pandora’s Box and Earth-Spirit].
$1,560
München: Georg Müller, 1920. 285 by 220 mm (11.25 by 8.75 inches). Original green leather boards; 108, [4]; 152, [4] pp. Each with 12 plates; 26 loose plates in a separate folder. In German. Copy 16 of 50 luxury copies out of a total of 500 numbered copies. With vivid at times erotic red and black illustrations in an Art Nouveau style by Hans Henning von Voigt (1887–1969) using the pseudonym Alastair. Good. Heavy wear and chipping to the spines. Folder of plates with soiling. Our “Lulu” could be nicely restored through a date with a bookbinder.
This play by Frank Wedeking (1864–1918) is also known as “Lulu”, after the main character described as “the true animal, the wild, beautiful animal” the “primal form of a woman.” The erotic story line depicts a society riven by the demands of lust and greed. Unsurprisingly, when the work first appeared, it was banned. The first fifty luxury copies are scarce on the market and achieve impressive prices at auction.
Provenance
Collection of Felix Guggenheim.
References
Hayn & Gotendorf, Bibliotheca Germanorum Erotica et Curiosa, VIII, 330.
| Author | Wedekind, Frank |
|---|---|
| Title | Die Büchse der Pandora. Tragödie in drei Aufzügen [and] Erdgeist. Tragödie in vier Aufzügen [and] Die Zeichnungen von Alastair zu Wedekinds Büchse der Pandora und Erdgeist. [Pandora’s Box. A tragedy in three acts. [and] Earth-Spirit. A tragedy in four acts. [and] The illustrations of Alastair to Wedekind’s Pandora’s Box and Earth-Spirit]. |
| Year of Publication | 1920 |
| Publisher | Georg Müller |
