Tittelbach, Vojtěch, and others (artists).

[CZECH AVANT-GARDE – PHOTOMONTAGE] Koruna: obrázkový magazin [Koruna: an illustrated magazine], vol. I, nos. 2–9, 11–13, 15–18, 20 (lacking 10, 14, 19); vol. II, nos. 1–7 (complete yearly run).

Prague: Antonín Král, 1929–1930. Large octavos (24.5 × 17 cm). Original staple-stitched photo-illustrated wrappers; 24–40 pp. each, consecutive pagination. Good to very good copies; occasional wear to spines and rust to staples; a few issues with nicks to wrapper edges; a few issues of the second year with foxing to wrappers; overall still a good or better set of a fragile periodical, typically only encountered rebound. Item #P6261

Nearly complete run in the original wrappers of this striking photo-illustrated arts and culture periodical, which appeared from January 1929 to July 1930. Koruna is highlighted in Jindřich Toman’s study of Czech photo-illustration as a “source of rich, dynamic photomontages” (Photo/Montage in Print, p. 263). Edited by Antonin Král, the journal contains news about cinema, dance, American and European popular culture, and avant-garde theater. Much of the contents features erotic and romantic overtones, and the advertisements include numerous publications by František Trefný, the sex-reformist and proprietor of the Hydiko House of Modern Cosmetics. Illustrated throughout with photocollages, photographs, drawings, cartoons, and advertisements. “A group of photomontages from Koruna, in all likelihood … by Vojtěch Tittelbach, belongs to the most radical examples of the entertainment-oriented photomontage essay.... All cases exemplify rich, Dada-inspired photomontage in the service of a sensational story and with elements of a cinematic way of seeing” (Toman, p. 276). Other photo-collages have been attributed to Vladimír Sychra. Toman 7.1.14–16.

As of March 2024, KVK, OCLC only show four holdings, all in North America, of which only two appear to be complete.

Price: €2,500.00

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