"Der Judenstaat, Versuch einer modernen Lösung der Judenfrage" ["The Jewish State: Proposal of a Modern Solution for the Jewish Question"], by Theodor Herzl. Vienna-Leipzig: M. Breitenstein, 1896. German. First Edition.
First edition of Theodor Herzl’s historical landmark, the first work to clearly articulate his Zionist vision of a Jewish state. Copy with the original paper cover.

86 pages, approx. 24 cm. Good condition. Unopened leaves. Creases. Few stains. Minor tears to edges of several leaves. Cover with several open tears to edges and to spine, professionally restored, with no damage to print. Housed in box lined with red fabric, approx. 27X3X18.5 cm. With two typewritten notes (catalogue listing).

Publication of "Der Judenstaat"
The story behind "Der Judenstaat" – commonly translated as "The Jewish State" and widely regarded as the book that served as the founding statement of the Zionist Movement – can be said to have begun with the so-called "Speech to the Rothschilds", composed by Theodor Herzl in time for his meeting with members of the Rothschild family in 1895. This speech, 22 pages in length, laid out the preliminary outline for what would eventually become Herzl’s grand landmark plan. This outline would gradually undergo a number of incarnations and versions before it sufficiently matured into a full-fledged plan, whereupon Herzl decided to turn it into a complete book.
According to Herzl’s own account, the book was written all at once, in two months of non-stop writing, "while walking, standing, lying, on the street, while eating, at night when the subject would keep me awake…" Once completed, the manuscript would, for the first time, present Herzl’s grand vision in all its glory – a detailed plan for the establishment of a Jewish state, stage by stage, beginning with the gathering and organizing of the Jews of the world, up until the enactment of a legal constitution and the adoption of a national flag. Regarding his thoughts and feelings at the time of the writing, Herzl had this to say: "I do not recall having written anything in my life with such an uplifted spirit as I experienced in the days of writing this book. Heine says that when he was composing his best-known works, he would hear the wingbeat of eagles above his head. Something of that same wingbeat is what I believe I was hearing as well".
Initially, no publisher was willing to print the book. Herzl found himself rejected by all his regular publishers, such as Duncker & Humblot, and the Berlin-based Siegfried Cronbach, who insisted that antisemitism was a waning force throughout the world. In the end, Herzl turned to Max Bernstein, a small-scale Viennese bookseller who agreed to print the book even though he did not share Herzl’s beliefs, nor was he at all sympathetic to the Zionist cause.
In February 1896, a small edition of "Der Judenstaat" was finally published in German with the subtitle "Proposal of a Modern Solution for the Jewish Question". In order to ensure that the work be treated with the seriousness he felt it deserved, Herzl added his academic degree – "LL.D." (Doctor of Laws) – to the authorship of the book.
Immediately upon publication, the book stirred up a maelstrom. A majority of public figures – Jewish and non-Jewish alike – viewed it as nonsensical and absurd; one particular Jewish newspaper editor even offered the use of his personal carriage to transport Herzl to an insane asylum. Among the book’s initial opponents were such unlikely personalities as Hayim Nahman Bialik – soon to be renowned as the "Jewish National Poet" – and Nahum Sokolow, the pioneer of Hebrew journalism who would one day become the author of the first Hebrew translation of Herzl’s "Altneuland". In the words of author Stefan Zweig, "never in [the history of] Vienna had anyone been subjected to such ridicule as Herzl".
As agreed in advance, Max Bernstein published three additional editions (distinguished from the original edition only in minute details on the respective covers and title pages) that same year. He published no subsequent editions of "Der Judenstaat".
Notwithstanding the scathing reactions of public figures and noted academics to "Der Judenstaat", the book succeeded in igniting the imaginations of a great many readers in Europe and around the world, and new editions – in Yiddish, Russian, English, and other languages – appeared not long after the publication of the original German editions.
One of the earliest editions to see the light of day was the Hebrew translation by Herzl’s personal secretary, Michael Berkowitz. It was published by "Toshiah" Publishers in 1896, the same year as the first German edition. In its introduction, Berkowitz brought attention to two "corrections" that Herzl insisted upon in oral communications with him; Berkowitz wrote the following (in Hebrew): "I hereby testify to two issues that relate in particular to the Hebrew translation… In the chapter [entitled] "Language of the Land", after he was made aware that a Hebrew-speaking readership exists for this book, a changed spirit took hold of him, as he was assured that the Hebrew language could surely be rejuvenated… As to the place of settlement… he [likewise] changed his mind… and addressed his attention exclusively to the Land of our Forefathers".
In subsequent years, with the burgeoning of the Zionist Movement and the convening of the early Zionist Congresses, the book came to be translated into yet more languages, and began to appear overseas, particularly in the United States, where Zionism quickly developed into a movement that carried weight and influence. In sum total, during Herzl’s brief remaining lifetime, no fewer than 17 editions of "Der Judenstaat" were published – most in small editions numbering only a few thousand copies, and often in the form of thin, nondurable booklets. Dozens more editions were published following Theodor Herzl’s passing, including translations into such languages as Ladino, Esperanto, Serbo-Croatian, and many others. It was to become one of the best-known Jewish works of all time.
Reference:
1. Theodor Herzl, "Theodor Herzls Tagebücher, 1895–1904", Vols. 1 and 2, 1922. In Hebrew: "Inyan HaYehudim, Sifrei Yoman (1895-1904)", Jerusalem: Mossad Bialik, 1997-2001, Vol. 1, p. 70.
2. Samuel Leib Zitron, "Herzl, Hayav U-Fe‘ulotav", Vilnius: Sh. Sreberk, 1921, p. 52 (Hebrew).