Anne Frank (1929–1945) - Diario - 1954

Early Italian edition of Diario by Anne Frank, published by Giulio Einaudi Editore in 1954, within the prestigious Saggi series (no. 175).

This copy belongs to the second Italian edition, printed on 25 May 1954 and explicitly stated in the colophon as identical to the previous printing of 17 March 1954. It therefore represents the very first reprint of the first Italian edition, issued only a few months after its initial publication and fully preserving the original text, layout, and editorial features of the earliest Italian printing.

A particularly important element of this example is the presence of the original illustrated dust jacket, a feature rarely encountered and of primary significance for collectors. The title appears simply as “Diario”, a characteristic associated with the earliest Italian printings of 1954, and generally regarded as a distinguishing point when compared to later editions.

The volume comprises 251 pages, printed in Italian, with the celebrated preface by Natalia Ginzburg and the translation by Arrigo Vita. Printing was carried out by the Francesco Toso press in Turin, as stated.

Condition: overall good, consistent with age and use. The original dust jacket, although present and genuine, is noticeably worn, with rubbing, edge wear and small losses, particularly along the spine and margins; nevertheless, its survival remains a rare and highly desirable feature. The binding shows some loosening at the spine, with slight separation from the text block, but the volume is complete and structurally stable. Internally, the pages are clean and notably white, with no foxing observed. A few ownership or institutional stamps are present, documenting historical circulation, without affecting the bibliographical integrity of the book.

Overall, a highly attractive early Italian printing, representing the earliest phase of the work’s publication history in Italy, made especially desirable by its documented proximity to the first edition and by the survival of the original dust jacket, despite wear.