Seelenprobleme der Gegenwart by C.G. Jung. Racher Verlag: Zurich & Leipzig, 1932.
Modern Man in Search of a Soul by Carl Jung, 1932.
-------------------
A fantastic copy of one of Carl Jung's most famous works in the original German. This copy is signed by Carl Jung and dated the 3rd of February 1934, a time when he was lecturing in Zurich, Switzerland. VERY RARE. The only signed copy of this book to ever come to market, and quite possibly the only signed copy of this title in existence.
In this book, Jung discusses most of his most famous psychological, theological, and philosophical ideas in essay format. These essays include:
- Problems of Modern Psychotherapy
- On the Relationships of Analytical Psychology to the Poetic Work of Art
- The Contrast Between Freud and Jung
- Goals of Psychotherapy
- Psychological Typology
- The Structure of the Soul
- Soul and Earth
- The Archaic Man
- The Turning Point in Life
- Marriage as a Psychological Relationship
- Analytical Psychology and Worldview
- "Complex" and Myth, by W.M. Kranefeldt
- Spirit and Life
- The Soul Problem of Modern Man.
Or, as published in their original language in this book, the essay titles are:
- Probleme der modernen Psychotherapie
- Uber die Beziehungen der analytischen Psychologie zum dichterischen Kunstwerk
- Der Gegensatz Freud und Jung
- Ziele der Psychotherapie
- Psychologische Typologie
- Die Struktur der Seele
- Seele und Erde
- Der Archaische Mensch
- Die Lebenswende
- Die Ehe als psychologische Beziehung
- Analytische Psychologie und Weltanschauung
- "Komplex" und Mythos, von W.M. Kranefeldt
- Geist und Leben
- Das Seelenproblem des modernen Menschen.
-------------------
Books signed by Carl Jung are very rare. He did not sign very much during his life, and the signed items extant are typically his signed typed letters. It is even more scarce for being both in a book and rather early, being signed in 1934. The majority of the extant signed material dates from the later years of his life following WWII.
A signed photograph of Jung in his later years (1958) sold at Swann Auction Galleries 11th February 2010 lot 46 realising $3,840 (USD). A typed letter signed at the bottom by Jung sold for $2,387.53 (USD) at Iconic Auctions 19th December 2014 lot 734, and another at Bonhams 9th December 2015 lot 59 realising $2,000 (USD), each letter being of fairly uninteresting content, with the more interesting letters tending to sell in excess of $10,000. However, signed books are significantly rarer than signed photos or letters. We can trace just two signed books of Jung's on the market. One for $12,500 with an inscription to his secretary, and another for £4,500 of a late autograph (1954) with some correspondence to a tenuously known recipient.
This is most likely the only signed copy of Seelenprobleme der Gegenwart in existence, or if not, certainly the only signed copy to have ever come to market. Jung did not sign and inscribe many books of his, something he called "sheer vanity" to do. They are correspondingly very scarce.
-------------------
Size: 144 x 205 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), t.p., v-ix, pp.1-435, 1pp, (1)]
Original publisher's cloth binding, slightly discoloured, notably to the rear board, but generally very good. Minor shelf and edge wear. Both boards securely attached, the binding secure, and without shelf lean. The binding is a bit too big for the page block, but this is as printed. Some foxing to page edges, but internally near fine, just with some contemporary light pencil marginalia on four pages (pp.405, 409 413, 415) potentially also in the hand of Carl Jung, but unconfirmed, as well as Carl Jung's presentation inscription to the title page. Endpapers a little more toned, slight loss to the upper corner of the final blank. Collated as complete including the advertisements on the verso of pp.435.
