R.U.R.: Rossum's Universal Robots

Prague: Aventinum, 1920. First edition. Fine. SCARCE FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS OF ČAPEK’S SCIENCE FICTION CLASSIC, THE WORK THAT INTRODUCED THE WORD “ROBOT” TO THE WORLD. “The first work to bring Čapek world renown was R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots, a ‘collective drama’ about artificial people, the robots of the title. This original play quickly circled the world, became the basis for film adaptations and, thanks to the play’s success, the word ‘robot’ (invented for Čapek’s by his brother) entered the world’s languages. It’s often considered a utopian work, but in fact Čapek merely used a utopian theme for a much more serious purpose... The fundamental message of the play is: estrangement between people and the products they create ends in catastrophe” (Ivan Klima, Karel Čapek: Life and Work).

The word “robot” - used here for the first time - was derived by Čapek and his brother from the Czech word “robota”, meaning “forced labor."

Note: This 1920 first edition in the original Czech precedes the play’s premier in Prague in early 1921. It was soon performed in New York (1922) and issued in an English translation in 1923. Although the colophon states that 2000 copies were printed, it’s scarcity suggests that the print run may not have been completed.

Pragus [Praha]: Aventinum, 1920. Octavo, recent full morocco with "R U R" inlaid on front board. A fine copy.

Note: The copy shown in the video is not the current copy being offered. (Inventory #: 2918)