The Ego and His Own
by Max Stirner
The Ego and His Own (Der Einzige und sein Eigentum) is Max Stirner's philosophical work, published by Otto Wigand in Leipzig in October 1844 with the date 1845. Its case for egoism later shaped individualist anarchism, and Steven Byington's English version followed in 1907.
- Editions tracked
- 3
- First edition
- Otto Wigand, 1844
- First published
- Otto Wigand, Leipzig, 1844
The first edition of The Ego and His Own by Max Stirner was published in Leipzig by Otto Wigand in 1844. We track 3 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
Later and other editions
- A. C. Fifield1912 Hardback I own The Ego and His Own, A. C. Fifield 1912 Log in to want this
- Boni and Liveright1918 Hardback I own The Ego and His Own, Boni and Liveright 1918 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 123 on Open Library, 57 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 17 languages
- Free to read
- Project Gutenberg (out of copyright in the US)
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
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Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Ego and His Own?
The first edition of The Ego and His Own by Max Stirner was published in Leipzig by Otto Wigand in 1844.
How many editions of The Ego and His Own are there?
We track 3 editions of The Ego and His Own, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Can I read The Ego and His Own for free?
Yes: the text is out of copyright in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg. Collectors still pay for the first edition, which is the physical object, not the words.
Where these facts come from
- The Ego and Its Own, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Der Einzige und sein Eigentum, German Wikipedia (de.wikipedia.org)
- The Ego and His Own, Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 26 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.