J. S. BACH, FIRST EDITION OF THE "GOLDBERG" VARIATIONS, 1741

Bach, Johann Sebastian CLAVIER UBUNG BESTEHEND IN EINER ARIA MIT VERSCHIEDENEN VERAENDERUNGEN VORS CLAVICIMBAL MIT 2 MANUALEN. DENEN LIEBHABERN ZUR GEMÜTHS-ERGETZUNG VERFERTIGET VON JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH KÖNIGL. POHL. U. CHURFL. SAECHS. HOFF-COMPOSITEUR, CAPELLMEISTER, U. DIRECTORE CHORI MUSICI IN LEIPZIG, NUREMBERG: BALTHASAR SCHMID, [1741] First edition of the "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988, [1, (1 blank)], 32 pages, 4to (29.5 x 20.3cm), engraved throughout, fine decorative title, plate number 16 to title, watermark of a snake (scarcely discernible on many leaves), early nineteenth-century cloth-backed marbled boards, manuscript label to upper cover ("Clavir Uibung bestehend in einer Aria mit 30. Veränderungen vors Clavicymball von J. S. Bach. M. E."), signature of former owner to title ("M. Elias"), signature of later owner to front free endpaper ("Feigler Janka"), on guards throughout, browning and spotting to title, damp-staining, affecting mainly the lowest stave of music, at the beginning and end of the volume, stain to title and first 3 leaves of music, a few corners creased