Rudolf von Gottschall / Paul Thumann - Rudolf von Gottschall – Gedankenharmonie aus Goethe und Schiller – Leipzig, Amelang ca.1885 – Fine - 1885-1890

Rudolf von Gottschall – Gedankenharmonie aus Goethe und Schiller – Leipzig, G. F. Amelang’s Verlag, ca. 1885 – First illustrated deluxe edition – 8 chromolithographs by Paul Thumann – Original gilt publisher’s cloth binding with intact cameo medallion

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A jewel of German book art – harmony of poetry, philosophy and illustration.

Magnificent late-19th-century German gift book (Geschenkband) celebrating the timeless genius of Goethe and Schiller.
Edited by the poet and dramatist Rudolf von Gottschall (1823–1909), this refined anthology gathers moral and philosophical reflections from the works of Germany’s two greatest classic authors.

Published by G. F. Amelang’s Verlag in Leipzig – one of the most elegant German publishers of the period – this Siebente Auflage (Seventh Edition) represents the first deluxe illustrated issue, enriched with eight superb tipped-in chromolithographic plates by Paul Thumann (1834–1908), the celebrated illustrator known for his allegorical and idealized figures that embody the spirit of Weimar Classicism.

The original publisher’s hardback binding is preserved in exceptional condition: full burgundy cloth richly gilt and blind-stamped, featuring a finely modelled intact cameo medallion of Goethe & Schiller in high relief on the front board, still crisp and lustrous.
The spine remains perfectly sound and brilliant, with all gilt ornaments fresh and unmarred – a rare survival for this decorative series.
All edges gilt. On the rear endpaper appears the original binder’s label “J. R. Herzog, Buchbinderei, Leipzig”, confirming genuine Leipzig craftsmanship and adding valuable provenance for collectors.

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Condition: Very good to excellent. Complete. Binding tight and luminous, gilt decoration vivid, minor corner rubbing. Clean, fresh pages with only occasional light foxing. All eight chromolithographic plates present and beautifully preserved.
Pagination: 296 pages + 8 tipped-in chromolithographic plates.
Language: German (Fraktur type).
Format: 18 × 14 × 2 cm.
Publisher: G. F. Amelang’s Verlag, Leipzig.
Date: ca. 1885 – 7th Edition (first illustrated deluxe issue).

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A decorative and literary treasure of German Classicism, merging poetry and art at the height of Leipzig’s chromolithographic craft.
Comparable examples are recorded in the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (DNB) and WorldCat (OCLC 120826812), but few survive in such a fresh and complete state, with the original cameo medallion and gilt spine perfectly preserved.