Hoffmann, E. T. A.

Das Fräulein von Scuderi [Mademoiselle de Scudéri]

Frankfurt: Williams, 1820. First Edition. Boards. 1st edition, 1st printing (the 1st appearance anywhere) in St. Schütz (Taschenbuch für das Jahr 1820 – Der Liebe und Freundschaft gewidmet). Half calf, gilt edges, original wrappers laid onto the boards, very good, and rarer than someone who is exactly like their online persona. Hoffmann’s tale is printed on pages 1–122.Coll: Frontispiece+(6)+24 pages+12 plates (1 each month)+330 pages with 5 engraved plates. Very good. Item #252

Brushing aside Voltaire’s Zadig (1747), as more of a satiric, philosophical comedy, despite some deductive reasoning, I’ll give you 3 irrefutable supports for the preeminence of Mademoiselle de Scudéri in the det– ective hierarchy. First: a series of unexplained mur– ders occur at the beginning, and are resolved at the end. Second: there is an innocent suspect, and the real killer appears as a character throughout the story, but is unsuspected. Third: The detection is winding, yet clear, though the detective is a detached, curious and ardently observant, 50–something lady (hello, Miss. Marple), not the police, or a private investigator. Works for me.

Price: $2,500.00