21.5 x 14.5 cm. 63 pages. Red, smoothed original calfskin binding with spine title, rich fillet gilt, and a laurel wreath as a cover vignette, gilt head edge. (Signed: H. Sperling, Leipzig). - First edition of Rilke's most important work alongside the Duino Elegies. He wrote the cycle of poems in dictation in the spring of 1922, after completing work on the Duino Elegies, which had stalled for many years. Enclosed is a handwritten greeting card for Christmas 1951 from Ruth Fritzsche-Rilke and Willy Fritzsche to Henry Tschudy. Ruth Rilke was the only descendant of Rainer Maria Rilke. One of 300 numbered copies of the deluxe edition on handmade laid paper. This copy features the finest details in hand-bound full-leather. Immaculately preserved. - Wilpert/Gühring 2/41. - Sarkovsky 1357 VA. - von Mises 99. - Ritzer E 46.