Hamburg: Gesellschaft der Bücherfreunde / Poeschel & Trepte, 1930. Hardcover. Number 313 of 700 copies. The first number of this fine German periodical on typography, illustration, and private press work. Includes an article by De Roos on Dutch book work, with facsimilies and a bibliography. Most text is in German. Bound in the original brown cloth with brick red and gilt title labels to spine. Slight bow to boards. Split to textblock after the front free endpaper, but binding remains secure. Slight bump to lower page corners. Clean and bright. Bookplate to front pastedown of William P. Wreden. Size: 8.75 x 11 inches. 205 pages plus 24 pages of examples. BOB/020323. Very Good. More

Wien (Vienna): Ben Johann Thomas Edlen von Trattnern, 1795. Hardcover. Zwente verbesserte Ausgabe (second revised edition). This is the first volume only of a two volume work. Johann Nepomuk Cosmas Michael Denis (1729 - 1800) was an Austrian author, poet, and the curator for the Vienna Court Library. He was also a Catholic Priest, Jesuit, and an entomologist who studied moths and butterflies. This work is presented in three parts discussing the history of the book through early Christianity, through the Renaissance, and finally through the mid/late 1700s including the book trade. Deaccession stamp from Harvard Library embossed to rear endpaper along with a black ink ownership stamp. The black ownership stamp appears in the margins of several internal pages as well. In modern binding, which appears to have been added after the book was deaccessioned as there are no library markings, of three quarter tan leather over marbled paper covered boards with black and gilt title to spine, which reads: "R. Denis / Bücher / Kunde" Minor wear and rubbing to edges of boards, corners, and raised bands. Replica pastepaper endpapers with a few small spots where the surface has lifted on rear endpapers (likely from glue). These replica papers reproduce a circular pencil marking that was found on the original. The title page is printed in red and black. Head and tail pieces throughout. Occasional spots of soiling to interior including smudge marks and ink spots. Dampstaining to top margin in gutter to most pages. The stain is small and light in most of the book, but covers a larger area of the page (about 2 x 3 inches) on later pages. The stain does not affect legibility. The folding chart at the rear has additional creases, a few tears, dampstaining, and minor foxing. Lacks additional engraved plate. IN GERMAN. Attractive binding. 293 pages with one folded engraved chart to rear. GER/020923. Very Good. More

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

Hellarau: Avalun - Verlag, 1927. Number 22 of 500 copies. Vellum spine and tips with grey paper covered boards and paper title label to front board. Darkening to vellum, markings to boards and spien, and minor wear to edges. Occasional finger smudges to margins, but clean and bright overall. Includes 50 pages of facsimilie reproductions of pages from books printed during the 16th century in Italy. Text in Italian. 41 pages plus 50 pages of facsimiles. PRI/012423. More

Leipzig: Das Deutschen Buchgewerbevereins, 1933. Paperback. Thin quarto. This issue is dedicated to Rudolf Koch and full circle. Professionally restored with a modern tan paper spine. Original paper wrappers are attached to the modern spine and missing lettering has been hand calligraphed. Title to front wrapper only. Closed tears to wrappers repaired with archival tape. Dampstaining to edge of front wrapper and to margins of first few pages. Toning to pages. Occasional spots of foxing, but clean overall. Illustrated. Includes several tipped in color illustrations. Pagination: 353 - 412 plus several plates. BOB/020323. Very Good. More

Darmstadt: Ratio-Presse, 1921. Hardcover. Number 103 of 200 copies. White parchment spine over cream paper covered boards with gilt floral device to front board. A few spots of soiling and browning to covers and spine, but clean overall. Printing and title etching by F.W. Kleukens. Text in German. The Ratio Press was in operation from 1919 - 1931. Friedrich W. Kleukens (1878 - 1956) was a typeface designer, artist, and member of the Darmstadt Artists' Colony. He founded the Ratio-Presse himself and later the Ernst-Ludwig-Presse with his brother Christian Heinrich. 17 pages. PRI/012323. Very Good. More

Leipzig: Staatl Akademie für graphische Künste und Buchgewerbe, 1931. Hardcover. One of 350 copies. This lecture was given in 1930 for the Academy of graphic arts and the book trade. Walter Tiemann (1876 - 1951) was a famous German type designer that created the typefaces Kleist Fraktur, Narcissus, and Tiemann. Bound in cream handmade paper covered boards with black cloth edges, black title to spine, and embossed stamp of the Akademie to front board. Minor wear and rubbing to boards and edges. Pencil inscriptions to front free endpapers. Clean overall with occasional pencil markings to margins. 28 pages. GER/022823. Very Good. More

Münich - Berlin: R. Oldenbourg / Verlag der Corona / Zürich, 1934. Hardcover. Anna Simons (1871 - 1951) was a calligrapher, scribe, and teacher that studied with Edward Johnston. She worked for the Bremer Presse for many years to develop initials and title designs. Tan cloth boards with red title to spine and front board. Fading to title on spine. Foxing and browning to spine and edges of boards. Fraying to cloth along joints. Even toning to interior. Large fold-out of family tree to rear. Includes facsimilies and several tipped-in illustrations. Size: Thin Quarto. 98 pages. GER/022823. Very Good. More