First book edition of works by Persian poet Rumi in German, in original publisher’s lithographic cover, 1838

Rumi [Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, 1207-73]; Vincenz von Rosenzweig, Ed.: Auswahl aus den Diwanen des grössten mystischen Dichters Persiens Mewlana Dschelaleddin Rumi. Aus dem Persischen mit beigefügtem Original-Texte und Erläuterungen. Wien: Druck und Verlag der Mechitaristen-Congregations-Buchhandlung, 1838.

Super Royal 4to (33:24 cm). Pages I-XII, [1], 14-236, XIV. Lithography on cardboard (cover) and letterpress on thick hand-laid paper, in the original publisher's board with decorative lithographic title on covers and spine.

First and only edition of the first book publication of works by Rumi in German, in original publisher's lithographic cover.

Contents, Author: Large-format bilingual (Farsi, German) edition of selected poems by Persian Sufi mystic Rumi (Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, جلال‌الدین محمد رومی), probably the most popular of all ancient Persian poets. Present Vienna edition is the first book publication of works by Rumi in German and it's translation was executed by Vinzenz Rosenzweig (1791-1865), a professor for oriental languages (Arab, Ottoman Turkish and Persian) at the renown Vienna »K.k. Akademie für Orientalische Sprachen«, who remarkably dedicated his work to the Russian Tsar Nicolas I. The book was typeset and printed by the Armenian Mechitarist Congregation of Vienna, a print shop specialised in non-latin letters. A copy of present work also enriched the library of famous oriental scholar Hammer-Purgstall, whose disciple Rosenzweig was and whose »Fundgruben des Orients« (1809-15) Rosenzweig contributed to. Rosenzweig's translation of Hafez in particular is highly appreciated by scholars until these days.

Condition: Cover at spine and corners skilfully restored, cover slightly stained and worn, some leaves marginally foxy and with little water-staining, otherwise a well preserved copy printed with wide margins on thick hand-laid paper and bound in the original publisher's lithographic cover.

Rarity: Particularly rare in trade. JBP/JAP/APO and RBH quote only 1 auction record for the last 100 years.

References: Not in Kalemkiar; ÖBL 9 (1988), S. 255; Wurzbach 27 (1874), S. 35f.; Bader, J., Verzeichniss der hinterlassenen werthvollen Bibliothek weiland des Herrn Josef Freiherrn v. Hammer-Purgstall, lot 237.