Friedrich NIETZSCHE

Autograph manuscript by the author, 14 pages in octavo, published in issue no. 12 (December 1945–January 1946) of L'Arche.
A complete recto-verso manuscript in a densely written hand, with numerous deletions, corrections, and additions.
Essay published on the occasion of the release of Father du Lubac’s Le Drame de l’humanisme athée.

After the war, the place of Friedrich Nietzsche—alongside the Marquis de Sade and Søren Kierkegaard—in Maurice Blanchot’s thought reflects the decisive influence of Georges Bataille and the philosophers he held in highest regard. From this point on, Blanchot devoted many texts to these figures, and “Du côté de Nietzsche” stands as a key testimony of that engagement. The very title of his forthcoming collection La Part du feu (to be published in 1949, including this article in a slightly revised form) is itself a Bataillean reference.
For Blanchot, Nietzsche’s power, through his use of language and style, lies less in his most explicit and oft-commented theses than in the crucible of a more fluid and sometimes self-contradictory discourse: « L'influence de Nietzsche ne se réduit pas aux formes extérieures qu'elle a prises ; c'est probablement, au contraire, ce qui de Nietzsche a échappé à toute transmission manifeste, cette part de lui, étrangère aux influences directes, qui a exercé l'influence la plus profonde. »
This idea would remain central to Blanchot’s reading of the German philosopher. Nietzsche’s inconsistency and ambiguity are embodied in the theme of the death of God, central to his work: « En aucune façon, le thème de la Mort de Dieu ne peut être l'expression d'un savoir définitif ou l'esquisse d'une proposition stable », Blanchot observes. And he famously adds: « Se contredire est le mouvement essentiel d'une telle pensée. » In L’Entretien infini (1969), Blanchot would once again revisit the Nietzschean question of the death of God, where it meets that of the unity of man.

A remarkable text by Maurice Blanchot on Friedrich Nietzsche, illustrating the profound influence of Georges Bataille on his thought.

The rare first edition of Friedrich Nietzsche's first work translated into French.
Light rubbing to head of spine, small brown stains at foot of second cover, some foxing.
Full khaki cloth Bradel binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at tail, navy blue shagreen title-label, covers preserved, contemporary binding signed Carayon.

La volonté de puissance. Essai d'une transmutation de toutes les valeurs [Will to power], Mercure de France, Paris 1903, 13x18,5cm, 2 volume in original wrappers.
First edition of the French translation, one of 12 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only grand papier (deluxe) copies.
One small trace of folding, not serious, to lower cover of the second volume, endpapers very slightly and partially shaded.
Nice and rare copy with untrimmed edges.

Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra [Thus Spoke Zarathustra], Mercure de France, Paris 1898, 13,5x22,5cm, bound.
Rare first edition of the French translation, no deluxe issue (grands papiers) printed.
Contemporary half red shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, marbled paper boards, mould-made pastedowns and endpapers.
Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Friedrich Nietzsche.
Signed and inscribed by translator Henri Albert to Gabriel Monod.
The recipient of this inscription Gabriel Monod played an important role in introducing Nietzsche's philosophy in France and was personally acquainted with the philosopher. Monod began writing articles about him in the 1874 Revue critique d'histoire et de littérature, at a time when only a few German-speaking French readers were aware of his writings. Following these articles, Nietzsche contacted Monod in the hopes of getting him to handle the publication of his works in France, to no avail.
Henri Albert's very first French translation of this 'Book for All and None' - first published fifteen years earlier - helped to make the German philosopher better known in France. Albert's translations were praised for their literary quality by writers André Gide and Paul Valéry, and earned a prize from the Académie française.
A precious inscription from one Nietzschean to another.

Par delà le bien et le mal [Beyond Good and Evil], Mercure de France, Paris 1898, 13,5x22,5cm, bound.
Rare first edition of the French translation, no deluxe issue (grands papiers) printed.
Contemporary half red shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, marbled paper boards, mould-made pastedowns and endpapers.
Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Friedrich Nietzsche.
Signed and inscribed by translator Henri Albert to Gabriel Monod.
The recipient of this inscription Gabriel Monod played an important role in introducing Nietzsche's philosophy in France and was personally acquainted with the philosopher. Monod began writing articles about him in the 1874 Revue critique d'histoire et de littérature, at a time when only a few German-speaking French readers were aware of his writings. Following these articles, Nietzsche contacted Monod in the hopes of getting him to handle the publication of his works in France, to no avail.
This very first French translation of the 'Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future' - first published twelve years earlier - helped to make the German philosopher better known in France. Albert's translations were praised for their literary quality by writers André Gide and Paul Valéry, and earned a prize from the Académie française.
A precious inscription from one Nietzschean to another.

First edition published in a small number of copies.
Signed autograph inscription from the author to André Rivoire.
Corner dampstain affecting the covers, also with marginal foxing.
Rare.