Another highlight of our Fall 2025 release and a new addition to our Embellished Manuscripts Collection is Goethe, Faust. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) stands as one of the greatest poets, writers, and dramatists in German literature, as well as an eminent natural philosopher. His sharp sense of observation allowed him to capture in his writing the multifaceted complexity of human behaviour.
Considered one of Germany’s greatest contributions to world literature, Faust tells the story of a brilliant scholar so disillusioned with life that he makes a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles. This fateful decision became a lasting cultural motif, the “Faustian bargain.” This iconic trade symbolises the eternal struggle between ambition and morality, the pursuit of power, and the question of what one is willing to sacrifice to attain it. Yet Goethe’s interpretation offers an ultimately optimistic vision, emphasizing the transformative power of striving and the possibility of redemption.
This tragic play, divided into two parts, is beautifully captured in our design, which reproduces a handwritten dialogue between Faust and Mephistopheles from Goethe’s Faust, Part II manuscript. Our Goethe, Faust journal celebrates a defining moment from this monumental work, honouring Goethe’s enduring influence on world literature and his profound insight into the human spirit.
Although this is our first adaptation of Faust, Goethe is no stranger to Paperblanks designs. He has previously appeared in our Embellished Manuscripts Collection through extracts from his Italian travel journal, a letter written to him by his friend Friedrich von Schiller, and Franz Schubert’s musical adaptation of Goethe’s Erlkönig poem. We are delighted to once again feature one of the 19th century’s most gifted minds, this time as part of our Fall 2025 collection.
So, the question is: What are you willing to trade to get your hands on this beautiful Paperblanks design?
Goethe, Faust is available as a hardcover journal and bookmark.
