The Hague: De Zilverdistel, 1915. One of 200 copies. This book in German was published by De Zilverdistel in the Hague. This was the first private press in the Netherlands, operating 1910-1922. It was founded by the poets Jan Greshoff, J.C. Bloem and Pieter N. van Eyck. They were later joined by the designer and printer J.R. van Royen. When he joined in 1913, De Zilverdistel became a true private press. Van Royen focused on the manual printing of the books, first on a hand press at Joh. Enschedé and Sons, later on his own press. The first item printed by De Zilverdistel on its own press in 1915 was a brochure about De Zilverdistel. In total sixteen books were published with him until 1919.
Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg, pen name Novalis, (1772-1801) was a German aristocrat and polymath, who was a poet, novelist, philosopher and mystic. He is regarded as an idiosyncratic and influential figure of Early Romanticism. Novalis's early reputation as a romantic poet was primarily based on his literary works, which were published by his friends Friedrich Schlegel and Ludwig Tieck shortly after his death, in 1802. These works include the collection of poems, Hymns to the Night and Spiritual Hymns, and his unfinished novels, Heinrich von Ofterdingen. These are included in this anthology. [Wikipedia]
Bound in the original vellum, with De Ziiverdistel's star shaped printing ornament stamped in gilt on the front cover. Gilt title to spine. Vellum is discolored and the covers are bowed. Slight wrinkling to pastedowns. Interior pages are clean and bright, with text printed in black, red, and blue. Uncommon in the trade. A very nice copy. Measures 5.5. x 7.5 inches. 127 pages. PRI/031523. Very Good. More