15.4 x 10.5 cm. 1 sheet, 240 pages. Original 19th-century half-leather binding with spine title. - First edition. Nathan the Wise, published in 1779, referred to the conflict between German Jews and Christians, who felt themselves religiously superior. To overcome this hierarchy, Lessing depicts a tolerant society based on the common values of all three monotheistic faiths. But Lessing was far ahead of his anti-Semitic times, and his play was condemned as heresy against Christianity. Second, revised printing, published in the year of the first edition. A fine copy. - Wilpert/Gühring 2/78.