Altneuland, Roman von Theodor Herzl.

Inscribed by Herzl to family member. Utopian novel by Herzl, in which he uses the plot to describe his vision of a Jewish state founded in Palestine.

On the front endpaper is a dedication in the hand of Theodor Herzl: 'Der lieben Ella / der liebe Theodor / 6 XI 1902' [To Beloved Ella, from Loving Theodor, 6 November 1902]. Herzl's sister-in-law Julia (Julie), née Naschauer, was nicknamed Ella (1875-1940).

The novel Altneuland (The Old New Land) was published a few years after the publication of Herzl's The Jewish State and after his visit to Palestine. Herzl wrote the novel in the years 1899-1902, giving the manuscript the title 'New Zion'. Later, he changed the manuscript's title to 'Altneuland', after the name of the Prague synagogue, 'Altneuschul'. In the same year it was published, the book was translated to Yiddish and Hebrew. The Hebrew translation was titled 'Tel-Aviv' (literally: 'mound of spring'), the title chosen by the translator, Nahum Sokolow. This name was later adopted as the name of the first Hebrew city. Within less than a year Altneuland was translated to six more languages. Printed on the title page is the famous motto, 'Wenn Ihr wollt, Ist es kein Märchen' [If You Will It, It Is No Dream].

Fourth edition; 8vo; original pictorial cloth, worn, with some minor tears to spine; stains and tears to margins of several leaves, slightly browned; text in German; dedication by Herzl to his wife's sister to front endpaper. [3], 343, [5] pp.