Kafka, Franz. The transformation. 72 pp., 1 Bl., 3 Bl. (displays). 21 x 13,5 cm. Obroschur with illustrated OEnvelope (draft: Ottomar Starke; this one is slightly more tanned at the back and at the edge and with faded moisture edge, Venvelope loose). Leipzig, Kurt Wolff, 1915. The youngest day 22/23. Raabe, manual 146, 3. Dietz 26. Smolen 22/23.1.A.1. – First book edition of the story, first printed in the "White Leaves" 1915. As usual with the year "1916" on the envelope. To the publishing announcement, Starke draws the title picture, Kafka writes: "I thought of it, because Starke actually illustrates that he could want to draw the insect himself. Don't do that, please! I want to ask out of my naturally better knowledge of history. The insect cannot be drawn. But it cannot even be shown from a distance ..." (Dietz p. 72). – Evenly weakly tanned, the binding partly somewhat loosened. The title is dated to the year of publication 1915 by the Kafkaleser Flora Hirschler, geb. Issak (1880-?), which today is reminiscent of a stumbling block in Ludwigshafen. After her escape to Argentina in 1937, she lost her lead in life. Two-sided uncircumcised specimen.