[GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von. (1749-1832)]. Die Feier des achtundzwanzigsten Augusts dankbar zu erwiedern. [Jena: Fromann, 1819].

First edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author, of the three-stanza poem ‘Sah gemalt, in Gold und Rahmen, / Grauen Barts, den Ritter reiten…’ to ‘Herrn Professor Dieterich’. Goethe wrote this poem for his 70th birthday as a gift for his well-wishers. The recipient is most likely to be Anton Dittrich (1786-1849), Prefect of the Gymnasiums in Komotau (Chomutov, Bohemia) whom Goethe mentions in his diary on 18 and 25 September. Hagen 410.

Broadside (201 x 118mm). Printed on unwatermarked wove paper (faint browning). Inserted in a sleeve within modern red morocco gilt binding by Scheer of Berlin. Provenance: authorial inscription ‘Carlsbad 15 Sept. 1819’ at bottom with presentation inscription to: – ‘Herrn Professor Dieterich’ (inscribed under title) – Georg von Siemens (banker, 1839-1901; bookplate on flyleaf, presumably recording previous ownership before binding) – Herbert Blank (Stuttgart bookseller’s description inserted in a sleeve).

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.