[CZECH ANTI-FASCIST ANTHOLOGY, PUBLISHED TO FUND INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES IN SPAIN] Anthologie protifašistických umělců [An anthology of anti-fascist artists].
Prague: B. Šmeral (Odeon and Knihtiskárna "Orbis"), 1936. Octavo (23.7 × 16 cm). Original red paper wrappers over blind card boards, with gray printed label to upper left corner; 71, [4] pp. Five full-page illustrations by Toyen, Štyrský, Hoffmeister, Bidlo, and Pelc. In the original red paper-covered slipcase. Signed throughout by all authors and artists. Red wrapper somewhat creased over front board; trace of plastic protective wrapper inside front and rear boards; Very good. Item #55699
First and only edition of this striking "anti-fascist" anthology of poems, essays, music, and art, "published for the benefit of the anti-fascist struggle" in Spain by Bohumír Šmeral and sold in commission by Odeon. Šmeral (1880–1941) was a leading Czech communist politician, a co-founder of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and later advisor to Stalin. The book contains poems by Konstantin Biebl, František Halas, Jindřich Hořejší, Helena Malířová, Stanislav K. Neumann, Jiří Noha and Laco Novomeský; prose by Karel Konrád, Jiří Kratochvíl, Marie Majerová, Ivan Olbracht, Marie Pujmanová and Vladislav Vančura; and songs by E. F. Burian (lyrics by Vítězslav Nezval) and Jiří Ježek (lyrics by Voskovec and Werich). Illustrated with five photomechanical full-page prints, reproducing drawings by František Bidlo, Adolf Hoffmeister, A. V. Pelc, Jindřich Štyrský and Toyen, each signed by the respective artist. With the exception of Karel Teige, who provided the typographic and overall design, all contributors have signed their texts and illustrations. Numbered copy of 550 copies on wood-free paper. An additional fifteen copies (XV) were printed on Pannekoek, with all illustrations hand-colored.
Vloemans 337.
Price: €1,650.00