Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Leni Riefenstahl. Schonheit im Olympischen Kampf. Im Deutschen Verlag, 1937.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Good-fair copy in orange cloth with gilt titles on spine and front cover. Titles are rubbed. Some spotting to front cover. Dust-staining to edges of page block. Foxing on first and last pastedown. Half-title page has been removed.
Seller: Jackson Street Booksellers, Omaha, NE, U.S.A.
Price: US$330.62 + shipping
Description: 21. - 32. Tsd., Mit 284 Fotoabb., 280 (3) S., 4°, Oln. Einbandentwurf: F. H. Ehmcke. Zweite Auflage. - Texte deutsch, französisch, englisch, spanisch und italienisch. - Papier vereinzelt leicht fleckig im weißen Rand, Vortitelblatt mit 2cm Einriß im unteren Falz, Seite 191/192 mit 2cm Einriß im unteren weißen Rand.
Seller: Versandantiquariat Markus Schlereth, Berlin, Germany
Riefenstahl, Leni. Schonheit im Olympischen Kampf. Im Deutschen Verlag, Berlin, 1937.
Price: US$375.00 + shipping
Description: 280pp. Quarto [31 cm] Orange cloth with gilt stamped titles. Very good condition. The olympic rings at the beginning of the text have been colored in. Mit Zahlreichen Aufnahmen von den Olympischen Spielen 1936. Illustrated with hundreds of photographs of the Berlin Summer Games. Images taken from Riefenstahl film 'Olympia.' All photographs have titles/captions in German, French, English, Spanish and Italian.
Seller: Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A.
Riefenstahl. Leni. Schonheit im Olympischen Kampf. Im Deutschen Verlag, 1937.
Price: US$481.22 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Leni Riefenstahl's spectacular photographic record of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, published to accompany her famous film of the games. 4to. 283pp. Captions in German, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Original red cloth, gilt. With scarce original dustwrapper, this creased and nicked to edges and with light stain to front wrapper, otherwise very good. A heavy book that may require extra charges if shipping overseas.
Seller: Pastsport, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Description: 280pp. Quarto [31.5 cm] Orange cloth with gilt stamped title on front board and backstrip. Near fine. Illustrated with hundreds of photographs of the Berlin Summer Games. Images taken from Riefenstahl film 'Olympia.' All photographs have titles/captions in German, French, English, Spanish and Italian.
Seller: Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A.
Price: US$1249.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Printing of Riefenstahl's "lavish," controversial photobook, a "masterpiece of the propagandist's art." (Parr & Badger) Royal 8vo (309 x 234mm): 282,[2]pp, complete with 273 full-page gravure plates captioned in German, French, English, Spanish, and Italian. Publisher's burnt orange coarsely woven cloth, spine and upper cover stamped in gold, photographically illustrated white dust jacket printed in black and orange and unpriced (as issued). About Fine (bruise to upper right corner with resultant creases to tips of page corners, trivial flaking to spine gold); very minor professional restoration to jacket edge wear and gentle soiling to back panel. An excellent example, tightly bound and clean throughout with bright renditions of the plates. Without the extremely rare original glassine (almost always wanting). Auer, p. 255. Parr & Badger I, p.151. Roth (101 Books), p. 96-97. Most of the images are stills taken during the filming of Olympia (which won Best Foreign Film at the Venice Film Festival after its premiere, in 1938), augmented with 31 behind-the-scenes photos of the production, showing cameras on dollies and tracks, cranes and swivels, submerged in pits and suspended from balloons. "These are such exquisite, such transcendentally beautiful images of athletes, that one almost forgets their context. And it's all Greek temples and hardbodies [sic] until page 54, when the German team enters the stadium in their immaculate white uniforms, their right arms raised in salute across the page to Der Fuhrer." (Roth 101) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Seller: Fine Editions Ltd, Lancaster, PA, U.S.A.
Riefenstahl, Leni. Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf. Im Deutschen Verlag, Berlin, 1937.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: Folio. 280, (4)pp. Original photo-illustrated dust jacket and orange cloth, with gold lettering on front cover and spine. Illustrated with 273 spectacular captioned photogravures, this seminal work in the history of sports begins with the pillars of the Parthenon and ends with the stacks of film reels on Leni Riefenstahl's shelves. The photographs were taken from the author's groundbreaking film "Olympia," the first documentary feature film of the Olympic Games ever made and widely noted for its technical and aesthetic achievements. Although Josef Goebbels told Riefenstahl to ignore non-Aryan athletes, she filmed and photographed (as seen in this work) competitors of all races, including African-American Jesse Owens. Includes two photos of Hitler, one as the German team enters the stadium, the other with Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten. The last section of the book documents the preparation of the Olympic film, showing cameras on dollies, and tracks, cranes, and swivels submerged in pits and suspended from balloons. There are underwater cameras, miniature and giant cameras, cameras on towers and boats. Foreword in German, captions in German, French, English, Spanish and Italian. Dust-jacket with light wear along edges, very small chips and closed tears. Front cover of jacket with light rippling, not affecting image. Dust-jacket in overall good+, binding and interior in very good condition.
Seller: ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$1800.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 281 pp. Brick red cloth with gilt lettering on front and spine. Exquisite previous owner inscription in German using multiple color ink dated December 12,1937. (A presentation of this book to the accountant/bookeeper of the Stuttgart Snow Shoe/Ski Club in celebrationof his 40th birthday). Nearly 300 black and white photographs of one or more athletes from each event at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The book is clean, square and tight throughout. It is nearly fine but for foxing on the page edges; interior is clean. Illustrated dust jacket has a chipped corner and soil spots on the front and rear panels. in mylar sleeve. Riefenstahl was an acclaimed film maker and photographer in Germany. She was also a propagandist for Hitler. Goebbles asked her to film the 1936 Olympics to promote Aryan superiority, ignoring non-Aryan athletes. She produced the groundbreaking film "Olympia" and this photo book to accompany it. She did promote German athletes but did not follow instructions. She photographed athletes from many nations, including American Jesse Owens (p. 100). The last 33 pages,replete with photographs, tells the story of the making of the film and many of the new technical advances she used. A beautiful book of sports photography noted for its technical innovations and aesthetic quality, and a primary source of the history of the turbulent times of the mid-1930s. Size: Quarto
Seller: The Chatham Bookseller, Madison, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$2100.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 281 pp. Brick red cloth with gilt lettering on front and spine. Nearly 300 black and white photographs of one or more athletes from each event at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The book is clean, square and tight throughout. It is nearly fine but for foxing on the page edges; interior is clean. Illustrated dust jacket is bright and clean with minor wear on bottom edge; in mylar sleeve. Riefenstahl was an acclaimed film maker and photographer in Germany. She was also a propagandist for Hitler. Goebbles asked her to film the 1936 Olympics to promote Aryan superiority, ignoring non-Aryan athletes. She produced the groundbreaking film "Olympia" and this photo book to accompany it. She did promote German athletes but did not follow instructions. She photographed athletes from many nations, including American Jesse Owens (p. 100). The last 33 pages,replete with photographs, tells the story of the making of the film and many of the new technical advances she used. A beautiful book of sports photography noted for its technical innovations and aesthetic quality, and a primary source of the history of the turbulant times of the mid-1930s. Size: Quarto
Seller: The Chatham Bookseller, Madison, NJ, U.S.A.
RIEFENSTAHL, Leni.. Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf.. Im Deutschen Verlag, Berlin., 1937.
Price: US$2117.39 + shipping
Description: First edition. Quarto. 281 pages, almost all devoted to stills from Riefenstahl's groundbreaking documentary film of the 1936 Olympic Games. Captions in five languages. Red cloth gilt.Near fine in very good indeed dustwrapper with several nicks at the edges.
Seller: Peter Ellis, Bookseller, ABA, ILAB, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Description: Folio. 280, (4)pp. Privately bound vellum-covered boards of the time with Olympic Rings and calligraphed black lettering in ink on cover, housed in tan cloth-covered clamshell box with vellum slip flap. Illustrated with 273 spectacular captioned photogravures, this seminal work in the history of sports begins with the pillars of the Parthenon and ends with the stacks of film reels on Leni Riefenstahl's shelves. The photographs were taken from the author's groundbreaking film "Olympia," the first documentary feature film of the Olympic Games ever made and widely noted for its technical and aesthetic achievements. Although Josef Goebbels told Riefenstahl to ignore non-Aryan athletes, she filmed and photographed (as seen in this work) competitors of all races, including African-American Jesse Owens. Includes two photos of Hitler, one as the German team enters the stadium, the other with Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten. The last section of the book documents the preparation of the Olympic film, showing cameras on dollies, and tracks, cranes, and swivels submerged in pits and suspended from balloons. There are underwater cameras, miniature and giant cameras, cameras on towers and boats. Foreword in German, captions in German, French, English, Spanish and Italian. Some very light stains on cover and spine, and lightly rubbed on inside front cover of box. Vellum slip flap lightly darkened. Covers lightly rubbed. Clamshell box and binding in very good, interior in near fine to fine condition.
Seller: ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
RIEFENSTAHL, LENI. Schonheit im Olympischen Kampf. Berlin Im Deutschen Verlag 1937, 1937.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Laid in is a vintage postcard photograph of Leni Riefenstahl, a portrait from one of her films, signed in ink by the author - film director, Leni Riefenstahl. Large folio volume of still photographs of RiefenstahlÕs filming of her motion picture Olympia. Generally considered the finest sports documentary ever produced, Olympia is well portrayed in this wonderful collection of photographs of the various sporting events of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Each of the full page photographs is captioned in English, German, Spanish, and French. At the rear of this 281 page coffee table book is a section showing many pictures of Riefenstahl shooting the film. Bound in full copper cloth with gilt stamping. Neat ownership signature, else fine in a near fine bright lightly used dust jacket.
Seller: James Pepper Rare Books, Inc., ABAA, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A.
Riefenstahl, Leni. Schonheit im Olympischen Kampf. , 1937.
Price: US$3208.16 + shipping
Description: (Berlin: Deutschen Verlag, 1937). FIRST EDITION, in an outstanding fine D/W together with the extremely rare original glassine (almost always missing). Riefenstahl's classic monument to the athletes of the 1936 Olympics. Profusely illustrated with nearly 300 black-and-white photographs. Quarto, publisher's original copper cloth boards with gilt lettering to the front board. With picture captions in English, German, Spanish, and French. An absolutely fine copy (no foxing to the page block edges) in like D/W with no edgewear whatsoever. The rare glassine has a little edgewear but is entirely original. Exceedingly uncommon with these attributes and an outstanding copy. A REALLY FINE COPY IN D/W WITH THE ORIGINAL GLASSINE. Photographs/scans available upon request.
Seller: James M Pickard, ABA, ILAB, PBFA., LEICESTER, United Kingdom
Leni Riefenstahl. Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf. Im Deutschen Verlag, Berlin, 1937.
Price: US$3306.20 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Brown cloth with gilt lettering on front cover and spine. Original dust jacket with small closed tears and fraying along top and bottom of spine and flap corners. Early association copy inscribed by Leni Riefenstahl on the half title: "Für Ernst Lemmer. Zur Erinnerung an den 10. Mai 1938. Leni Riefenstahl". Ernst Lemmer was a member of the Reichstag and founding member of the Eastern zone CDU. During the war he was a foreign newspaper correspondent. After the war he was a minister in the Bonn federal government. Tape remainders on endpaper and half title page probably used to keep these pages together and so hide the inscription. Printed in photogravure. Illustrated with 286 photos from different photographers, under the direction of Riefenstahl. Picture captions in English, German, Spanish, and French. Scarce first printing; there was also a second printing in the same year (1937) and a reprint in 1988. Andrew Roth, The Book of 101 Books, page 96/97. 802 photobooks of the M. + M. Auer collection, page 225. 282 pp. 30,6 x 23,5 cm. Important photobook wit a historical interesting inscription by Leni Riefenstahl.
Seller: Concept Books, Veldhoven, Netherlands
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: FIRST EDITION, in exceptionally fine dust jacket and extremely rare original glassine, of Riefenstahl's classic monument to the athletes of the 1936 Olympics. Profusely illustrated with 273 black-and-white photographs. "With the German photographer Leni Riefenstahl, sports imagery rose to new aesthetic heights. Commissioned by Joseph Goebbels, she brought her considerable visual and organizational skills to bear on both the photographing and filming the 1936 Olympic Games. Although the film Olympiad has become an acknowledged classic, her book of photographs, Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf, no less spectacular in its own way, is less known. Sometimes Riefenstahl relied on poses modelled on the antique Greek ideal, faithful to Hitler's belief that modern Teutonic man was 'feeling closer to classical antiquity' than he had 'in possibly a thousand years'. But far more original were her depictions of superbly athletic bodies soaring gracefully through the air and knifing effortlessly through the water. Riefenstahl applied certain devices characteristic of the new German photography- strong diagonals, tight croppings, and bird's-eye and worm's-eye views. No longer was the camera an earthbound witness; it took to the air and the water with the athletes" (William A. Ewing, The Body). Roth 96: ("These are such exquisite, such transcendentally beautiful images of athletes, that one almost forgets their context.") Berlin: Deutschen Verlag, (1937). Quarto, original cloth, original dust jacket, original glassine; custom box. With picture captions in English, German, Spanish, and French. A few spots to text block edge, cloth nearly pristine; dust jacket in superb condition with only a hint of edgewear; glassine with a few small chips and tears. Extremely rare in such fine condition - the nicest copy we've seen.
Seller: Manhattan Rare Book Company, ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
RIEFENSTAHL, Leni.. Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf.. Berlin: Im Deutschen Verlag, 1937, 1937.
Price: US$4812.25 + shipping
Description: First edition, first printing, an exceptional copy retaining the rare glassine and card slipcase. This photobook was produced alongside Olympia, Riefenstahl's landmark documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Olympia was immediately recognized as truly innovative, experimenting with cutting-edge shooting and editing techniques, winning the Best Foreign Film in Venice following its premiere in 1938. The majority of the images featured in this volume are taken from the film, but the concluding section adds 31 behind-the-scenes production photos. Riefenstahl's legacy has been bitterly contested since the Second World War. Some (including Riefenstahl herself) have attempted to portray her as an independent artist, with a purely aesthetic mission, having little interest in the Nazi programme. It has been argued that her film, in fact, offended the sensibilities of senior Nazis and that Goebbels tried to have it destroyed. However, the consensus has been less forgiving. Susan Sontag, in her essay "Fascinating Fascism", attacked these attempts to sanitize Riefenstahl's reputation, asserting that Olympia was "commissioned and entirely financed by the Nazi government. and facilitated by Goebbels's ministry at every stage of the shooting". However, both the film and book inevitably included images of African-American quadruple gold medallist Jesse Owens, an electrifying refutation Nazi claims to Aryan athletic superiority. Roth 101, p. 96. Quarto. Original red cloth, spine and front cover lettered in gilt, Olympic rings to front cover in gilt. With dust jacket, glassine, and original card slipcase (stamped "Riefenstahl") for mailing. Illustrated throughout with photographic plates, mostly full page. Book in fine condition, jacket in near-fine condition with tiny chips and rubbing at extremities else clean and fresh, glassine with chips yet all holding and still in good condition, slipcase in very good condition with small chip at front entry and very marginal split along joints; overall, a very desirable copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$9009.90 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Berlin, Im Deutschen Verlag, 1937. Pleine toile rouge avec lettrage et décor dorés sur le premier plat et le dos, jaquette illustrée, étui d origine avec le tampon de la photographe (pour le premier exemplaire uniquement), 210 x 235 mm. 282 pages et 285 photographies. Avant-propos de Leni Riefenstahl légendées en anglais, allemand, français, italien et espagnol. Les photographies de cet ouvrage sont tirées du film de Léni Riefenstahl "Olympia", tourné lors des jeux Olympiques de l'été 1936. Film largement reconnu pour ses réalisations techniques et esthétiques. "Schönheit Im Olympischen Kampf" est le premier ouvrage où des athlètes ont pu être photographiés de si près. Pour la première partie de son livre, Leni Riefenstahl présente un idéal grec antique à travers des temples et des corps athlétiques. La seconde partie débute avec l'arrivée dans le stade olympique de l'équipe allemande dans un uniforme blanc immaculé sous le regard du Führer, et l'ouvrage se termine avec un aperçu du du tournage du film « Olympia ». - Premier exemplaire avec la photographie de la page 237 inversée et les noms des collaborateurs imprimés à la dernière page dont Willy Zilke où l on lit: « La plupart des images sont des agrandissement du film olympique. Les photos des temps (anciens), des sculptures et des nus sont de Willy Zielke. Arthur Grimm à pris les photos fixes. Les enregistrements de l oeuvre sont d Arthur Grimm et Rolf Lantin. Guzzi Lantschner était responsable de la sélection des images à partir du film. Agrandissement et élaboration des photos: Gertrud Sieburg et Rolf Lantin. » (traduction littérale). - L erreur de la page 236 est corrigée dans le second exemplaire et la dernière page reste la même que le précédent. - La pagination du troisième exemplaire ne change pas, mais les photos de Zielke deviennent tacitement attribuées à Riefensthal par le retrait des attributions. TheBookof101Booksp.96/M+M.Auer255/M. Heiting, Autopsie II p. 531-536
Seller: La Chambre Noire, Lausanne, VD, Switzerland