J.S. Bach. First edition of "The Well-Tempered Clavier" ("the 48"), in 2 volumes: Simrock, [1801-1802]

BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN

FIRST EDITION OF DAS WOHLTEMPERIERTE KLAVIER, BOOKS 1 AND 2, BWV 846-893, IN 2 VOLUMES, PARIS: AUX ADRESSES ORDINAIRES; BONN: N. SIMROCK, [1801-1802]

1) 48 Préludes et Fugues dans tous les tons, tant Majeurs, que Mineurs. Pour le Clavecin ou Piano Forté...No.[2] (= Book 1)...Ecrit par Sampier [Hoboken 94], [1802] 

2) Preludes et Fugues pour le Forte-Piano dans tous les tons, tant majeurs que mineurs...I. Partie (= Book 2), contenant 24 Préludes et 24 Fugues [Hoboken 97],[1801] 

FIRST EDITION, 2 volumes, oblong 4to (c.23.3 x 31.5cm), 83 & 97 pages, engraved throughout, unpriced on titles, volume number to Book 1 added in manuscript ("2"), titles blank on versos, Simrock's catalogue to Book 1, plate numbers 166 & 138, contemporary calf-backed card wrappers,

This is arguably Bach's best-loved keyboard work, known in English as "the 48" or the "Well-Tempered Clavier". Editions were published in Vienna & Leipzig (Hoffmeister) and in Zurich (Nägeli) almost simultaneously, although Simrock's edition is generally reckoned to have appeared first. Simrock published Book 2 (BWV 870-893) in 1801 and Book 1 (BWV 846-869) the following year. The two competing Leipzig and Zurich editions may possibly have come out in the meantime. Plate numbers were not engraved on the titles, nor on pages 14 & 60 of Book 1 or page 7 of Book 2.

LITERATURE:

RISM B 497 & B 498; Hirsch, iii 57; Hoboken 94 & 97 (plate 13); Fuld pp.117-118