Dublin charity shop finds rare edition of 'Mein Kampf'

marcsignal

Came across this today ......

AN OXFAM charity shop in Dublin has become the owner of a rare 1939 copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf after it was found in a bag of old books from an unidentified donor.

The uncensored leather-bound edition, which is on sale for €400, contains all of Hitler’s original text, detailing his belief in the supremacy of the Aryan race and his anti-Semitic agenda, and more than 200 illustrations and photographs. One of the first English editions, it was translated by Irishman James Murphy.

“We had it for a couple of weeks there and no one really looked at it,” Solène Rapinel, the manager of Oxfam on George’s Street said.

It was only after one of the staff noticed the book while sorting through the stacks that they looked into it. “We started looking on Amazon, and then we understood we had something interesting,” she said.

The book has been on display since Tuesday afternoon and has attracted interest from some customers. “We had one complaint, saying Oxfam shouldn’t sell this kind of propaganda,” Rapinel said, though most customers just wonder why it is so expensive.

“The one who’s going to buy it will be someone who doesn’t necessarily shop in Oxfam,” she said. “It will be someone who wants to collect this kind of book . . . someone who loves books.”

Anne L’Henoret from the Oxfam bookshop on Parliament Street said the specialist shop does occasionally come across rare donations. “We’ve had Bibles from the 17th century, we’ve had a first edition of The Commitments – we’ve had a lot of things like that that stood out,” she said.

The shop has come across copies of Mein Kampf before, but hasn’t put the “bog-standard paperbacks” on sale. “We have this dilemma – do we sell something that we don’t politically agree with, but then it raises money for Oxfam and for our work?” The 1939 edition is different, she said. “This is a historical document, because it’s a very unusual edition as well.”

The translator, Murphy, an Irishman educated in St Patrick’s College Maynooth, wrote a biography of Hitler and translated books by scientists such as Max Planck and Erwin Schrödinger.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0610/1224298691137.html#.TfJuRu-aBu4;facebook

interesting dilemma they appear to be in regarding selling it but it sure is an odd thing to turn up in Oxfam

ejmaztec

Mein Kampf seems to be quite poular in WW2 memorobilia and ordinary second-hand bookshops in Central and Eastern Europe for some strange reason, perhaps they're catering for Neo-Nazis?

citizen_p

sell away, its for charity.

Its hitlers autobiography basically, although he did use alot of "artistic licence" when writing it. its essential to anyone studying the man and why he did what he did in the following years in relation to war, anti semitism, holocaust and his views on racial superiority. also its one of the only sources of his early life before he rose to power apparently.

obviously the neo nazi aspect is there but alot of people would be just interested in the rise to power of one of historys most iconic evil man.

arnhem44

There going to make some money out of Hitler(so what),about time he done some good:)

hinault

I would have thought that a leather bound edition of MK would be very rare?

Morlar

hinault wrote: »

I would have thought that a leather bound edition of MK would be very rare?

There were also wedding editions presented in carved wooden boxes, needless to say signed copies or ones signed by leading personalities are valuable. I am not sure this one is valuable, it depends on which exact edition, and the times article did not include a picture.

This link outlines some of the different versions :

http://www.scribd.com/doc/45009532/Mein-Kampf-Collectors-Guide

charlemont

arnhem44 wrote: »

There going to make some money out of Hitler(so what),about time he done some good:)

The book should be burned, Id rather eat from a bin than accept charity money from such a book, Im sure I looked through a copy of it several years ago and put it back on the shelf as it was so pathetic.

arnhem44

I'm sure plenty of people are eating out of bins these days the way things are and would be happy to get that charity money wherever it came from.

marcsignal

charlemont wrote: »

The book should be burned, Id rather eat from a bin than accept charity money from such a book, Im sure I looked through a copy of it several years ago and put it back on the shelf as it was so pathetic.

I don't know, if i was dying of Cystic Fibrosis or Cancer, I'm not sure I'd be so particular. Would it not be ironic that the money could also end up being used to help those less fortunate, and vulnerable in our society, perhaps even those that might have been victims of the Nazi regime, had they lived then, like the handicapped?

clashburke

supposed to be a very very boring book...even though its historically important!!


(was told by a history teacher not a skinhead:pac:)

colblimp

clashburke wrote: »

supposed to be a very very boring book...even though its historically important!!


(was told by a history teacher not a skinhead:pac:)

I'm reading it at the moment and it IS boring, but it's also fecking evil. The author was psychotic...:(

marcsignal

Just came acrosss this.
The video clip is in German but the text underneath is in English.

hidinginthebush

colblimp wrote: »

clashburke wrote: »

supposed to be a very very boring book...even though its historically important!!


(was told by a history teacher not a skinhead:pac:)

I'm reading it at the moment and it IS boring, but it's also fecking evil. The author was psychotic...:(

I don't believe you! :P

Mr. Presentable

The author ruined a perfectly good moustache, for everyone.

Hellrazer

Im no Hitler fan but Ive read it and it is boring as anything.The chapters where he outlines his anti-sematic beliefs are evil as anything but the chapters describing his political views can be quite interesting in all fairness as long as you arent some sort of racist and read it as such. Some would say its genius but its definately not--its more the ramblings of a nut job to be honest.

Ive a copy here from around 1940 <<<wonder is that worth anything?


**Edit**
Just grabbed mine there and its a 1939 1st Edition.Hutchinsons and Co.Illustrated and expurgated edition.

February 1939 Translated by James Murphy.

http://cafeandbooks.co.uk/#/hitler-mein-kampf/4535166295

Exactly like the one pictured in the link above.Cover is not in as good condition but the pages are immaculate.

Time for ebay I think--not sure if adverts users would appreciate the book to be honest

hidinginthebush

Hellrazer wrote: »

Ive a copy here from around 1940 <<<wonder is that worth anything?


**Edit**
Just grabbed mine here and its a 1939 1st Edition.Hutchinsons and Co.Illustrated and expurgated edition.

http://cafeandbooks.co.uk/#/hitler-mein-kampf/4535166295

Exactly like the one pictured in the link above.Cover is not in as good condition but the pages are immaculate.

Time for ebay I think--not sure if adverts users would appreciate the book to be honest

Nice find... congratulations!

[Goes off to rummage through attic]

Hellrazer

http://www.adverts.ie/memorabilia/mein-kampf-1939-1st-edition-hutchinsons-and-co-illustrated-and-expurgated-edition/794904

Pics here ^^^^^^^^

See if it moves.If not I might keep it for another few years.

Samba

Hellrazer wrote: »

http://www.adverts.ie/memorabilia/mein-kampf-1939-1st-edition-hutchinsons-and-co-illustrated-and-expurgated-edition/794904

Pics here ^^^^^^^^

See if it moves.If not I might keep it for another few years.

Not as valuable or as scarce as the article makes it out to be tbh. I'm not interested but I came across it browsing adverts and I didn't want to comment on your sale thread.

Thankfully though it's definitely the 1st hardback ed. you have, it was also published in paperback format, many of which were rebound and passed on as the original hb 1sts.
(The Oxfam copy could potentially have been a PB ed rebound, though sometimes people just like getting their books rebound in leather it was/is common for those who could afford it)

I would however lower your expectation, particularly on Ebay if you decide to go that route (insertion fees can hurt on an item like this).

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=5382804351&searchurl=an%3DHitler%26bx%3Doff%26ds%3D30%26pn%3DHutchinson%26recentlyadded%3Dall%26sortby%3D1%26tn%3DMein%2BKampf%26x%3D80%26y%3D16%26yrh%3D1939%26yrl%3D1939

There you see a copy which seems to be in considerably better condition than yours selling for 220+ shipping. I'd say you would do well to get 175 for that based on condition. Pages appear heavily tanned and I spotted some water staining on some of the pages?

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but still a nice piece, personally i'd hang on to it, as like most things,, the value of antique books have also fallen quite sharply in recent times.

Best of luck with it what ever you do!

Hellrazer

Samba wrote: »

Not as valuable or as scarce as the article makes it out to be tbh. I'm not interested but I came across it browsing adverts and I didn't want to comment on your sale thread.

Thankfully though it's definitely the 1st hardback ed. you have, it was also published in paperback format, many of which were rebound and passed on as the original hb 1sts.
(The Oxfam copy could potentially have been a PB ed rebound, though sometimes people just like getting their books rebound in leather it was/is common for those who could afford it)

I would however lower your expectation, particularly on Ebay if you decide to go that route (insertion fees can hurt on an item like this).

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=5382804351&searchurl=an%3DHitler%26bx%3Doff%26ds%3D30%26pn%3DHutchinson%26recentlyadded%3Dall%26sortby%3D1%26tn%3DMein%2BKampf%26x%3D80%26y%3D16%26yrh%3D1939%26yrl%3D1939

There you see a copy which seems to be in considerably better condition than yours selling for 220+ shipping. I'd say you would do well to get 175 for that based on condition. Pages appear heavily tanned and I spotted some water staining on some of the pages?

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but still a nice piece, personally i'd hang on to it, as like most things,, the value of antique books have also fallen quite sharply in recent times.

Best of luck with it what ever you do!

Thanks for the advice Samba--I know feck all about antiques/old books etc so I just stuck the ad up to see if there was any interest.Im gonna leave it for a few days and if it doesnt move Im keeping it.

You know how much I paid for this??

Five Irish Pounds back in and around 1994 in a tiny little bookshop in Thomas Street in Dublin.Id alwasy wanted to read it just for the sake of it and saw it in the window.

Id been in Easons looking for a copy and the cheapest paperback version was around 12 pound and I wasnt wasting that on it.

So it stands me nothing--open to offers

Samba

Hellrazer wrote: »

You know how much I paid for this??

Five Irish Pounds back in and around 1994 in a tiny little bookshop in Thomas Street in Dublin.Id alwasy wanted to read it just for the sake of it and saw it in the window.

Id been in Easons looking for a copy and the cheapest paperback version was around 12 pound and I wasnt wasting that on it.

So it stands me nothing--open to offers

It can be a funny trade and I'd bet that on a right day with the right person you might well find a buyer willing to pay that, all about the luck of the draw in that respect, fantastic find considering what you paid though!

Love hearing those stories