Uarda

Uarda by George Eber
Henry T. Coates and Co., Philadelphia
Undated Reprint Edition

Georg Moritz Ebers (1837-1898), author
and
True First Book Editions
This blog post offered by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com

Ebers Papyrus
Ancient Egyptian Medical Document

A popular novel that went through multiple editions immediately following its first publication is Uarda, the second historical romance after An Egyptian Princess (1864) by George Moritz Ebers. After studying law, Ebers concentrated his studies on Egypt, with an important medical document, the Ebers Papyrus, named in his honor.

It was an illness, called long and serious by Charles Dudley Warner in his A Library of the World's Best Literature Ancient and Modern (Vol. 8, 1897), that led Ebers to take time from his juridical studies and begin his lifelong interest in Egypt, which in turn inspired his Egyptian historical novels. He makes note of this in his Dedication.

Uarda: Dedication

Thou knowest well from what this book arose.
When suffering seized and held me in its clasp
The fostering hand released me from its grasp,
And from amidst the thorns there bloomed a rose.
Air, dew, and sunshine were bestowed by Thee,
And Thine it is; without the lines from me.

Should you be interested in purchasing a first edition of Uarda, however, you will discover many listings by many publishers printed in various years, and then what do you do? It is obvious that they all cannot be a first edition.

With diligence and persistence it is quite possible to discover which edition among the antiquarian (antique) books available for purchase on the internet is the true first among the firsts for most books. As always, finding the right keywords for searches is important.

Title Page: Uarda Reprint Edition
Philadelphia: Henry T. Coates and Co.
This is NOT a first edition.

Using Uarda as Example: Which Edition is the True First Among the Firsts?
Georg Ebers wrote books in his native tongue, which was German. It appears that his translator for Uarda was a brilliant woman, Clara Bell, who was fluent in seven languages. Knowing of a translator, the first conclusion to draw is that the first edition of Uarda was written in German. Ebers' Preface is dated 1876, and thus the first edition was most likely published in that year or soon after. Although some editions of books known as first thus or reprint editions are significant and collectible for various reasons, generally speaking the true firsts are the editions that are most collectible. To clarify an important point, though, it must be added that not all old, antiquarian, antique books are collectible since collectability is based upon not only age and condition but also upon number of copies available, significance of content and desirability.

Uarda First Edition

Uarda - Roman aus dem alten Aegypten

Three Volumes
Eduard Hallberger,, Suttgart u. Leipzig,, 1877
Example of Uarda First Edition
Worldcat Record: Uarda published by Eduard Hallberger, 1877

Uarda First American Edition (English Language)
Uarda: A Romance of Ancient Egypt
Two Volumes
Authorized ed. New York, W.S. Gottsberger, 1880.
Example of Uarda First American Edition
Library of Congress Record: Uarda published by W.S. Gottsberger, 1880.