NEW DIRECTIONS FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF HERMANN HESSE'S SIDDHARTHA

HESSE, Hermann. Siddhartha. (New York): New Directions, (1951). Small octavo, original green cloth shelfback, mustard cloth-covered boards with photographic image printed on front cover, top edge stained green, in original cloth slipcase similarly printed and with publisher's mounted label. $950.

Limited first edition in English of Hesse's lyric novel based on the early life of Buddha.

"Inspired by Hesse's intimate study of Indian philosophy and religion… [the novel] is divided into two sections and numerous chapters with headings indicating the nature of the experience of the eponymous central figure, the Brahmin Siddhartha" (Garland, 834). Originally published in Berlin in 1922, this edition was translated from German into English by Hilda Rosner. New Directions published a trade edition later in the same year; this first 1951 printing is distinguished from the 1964 gift edition by the absence of photographer credit on the copyright page. Harrison, Newth & Candido, 31.

Contents clean; spine gently toned, traces of rubbing to extremities. Slipcase lightly toned. A near-fine copy.