$35 · 1888 Antiquarian Book: Goethes Works: Faust Part Two

Early original German language edition of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust Part Two (Part Two was released posthumously in 1832). This edition is half bound in brown leather and has beautiful hand marbled end pages and boards. The text block edges are also hand marbled. The text itself is in the classic black Gothic lettering typical of the period. This book is simply a work of art. The book has seen better days, it is all intact but there is a chunck of the leather missing from the top of the spine and some major wear on the corners. Some red rot has taken place here. On the back inside blank end page there is a pen mark (looks like someone has written the numbers 129) and a stamp (C.M.C.) that has some marker crossing it out. All this aside, the book is beautiful. In this second part the romantic story of the first Faust is put aside, and Faust wakes in a field of fairies to initiate a new cycle of adventures and purpose. The piece consists of five acts (relatively isolated episodes) each representing a different theme. Ultimately, Faust goes to Heaven, for he loses only half of the bet. Angels, who arrive as messengers of divine mercy, declare at the end of Act V: "He who strives on and lives to strive/ Can earn redemption still". Asking $35 firm. Pickup is in Esquimalt, close to Country Grocer. Thanks for looking!