Legenden und Märchen Unserer Zeit
Edited by Emil Klägers
Published by Artur Wolf Verlag: Wien & Leipzig 1917
LIMITED EDITION #170 OF 500
Includes 8 Tipped In Coloured Plate Illustrations
"Issued in 1917 under the patronage of Emperor Karl I of Austria, this remarkable wartime publication unites a distinguished group of Austrian and German writers and artists in a collection of modern legends and fairy tales conceived "for the benefit of war orphans and children." Elegantly designed with decorative title pages printed in blue and a striking Gothic-Art Nouveau border, the work reflects both the melancholy and the hope of the First World War era. The text, introduced by Emil Kläger, calls for a spiritual refuge from the clamour of war through imagination and beauty, a sentiment powerfully expressed through its poetic prose and lyrical tone.
This example is one of just 500 copies printed on fine laid paper, numbered 170, and includes several exquisite tipped-in colour plates by leading Austrian artists such as Luigi Kasimir and Erhard Amadeus. Bound in full brown leather with gilt-tooled borders and title, the book exudes the craftsmanship of Vienna's golden publishing age. A highly collectable edition for enthusiasts of Austro-Hungarian art and literature, early 20th-century fairy-tale illustration, and decorative fine press printing."
General wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. The leather covers have dried at the edges and are somewhat fragile. Pages clean and beautifully presented. All 8 illustrations present. Binding is excellent with no loose pages and secure, firm covers. No inscriptions. An excellent copy of a scarce and desirable German WW1 era work. Please study photos to further understand condition.