BACH Johann Sebastian (1685 - 1750) Lot n° 3

Preludes and Fugues for Forte-Piano in all keys, both major and minor by J. Seb. Bach dedicated to the Conservatory of Music by the Publisher. I. Partie, contenant 24 Préludes et 24 Fugues (Paris aux adresses ordinaires; à Bonn chés l'Éditeur N. Simrock, [1801]); one oblong volume in-4, 97 pages (24 x 32 cm); original blue boards (later cloth spine, trace of title-piece on upper board, boards rubbed; wetness and slight foxing on title; slight marginal flaws to a few leaves). Rare first edition of the second book of the Well-Tempered Clavier, published before the first book. Engraved edition, each plate marked 138 (except p. 7). It contains the 24 preludes and fugues of the second book, numbered I-XXIV (actually 25-48, BWV 870-893). The editions were published almost simultaneously by Simrock, Hoff meister (in Leipzig) and Nägeli (in Zurich), the second book having appeared before the first one before the mention "I. Part" [Hoboken 97; Fuld, p.117; RISM B 497]. Stamp of André DELAPIERRE (1968) on the back cover