Maldoror.
by Comte de Lautréamont (Isadore Ducasse); Jindrich Štyrský
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Newton MA USA, Massachusetts, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Prague: Jan Fromek, 1929 Octavo, original wrappers bound in full calf decorated boards, top edge gilt, 123 (v) pp. No. 68 of 150 copies on antique paper, from an edition of 300 numbered copies. Selected poems from Lautréamont's proto-surrealist classic, translated into Czech by Jindrich Horejší with Karel Teige's and Philippe Soupault's collaboration. The first illustrated edition to reach publication, with twelve 2-color lithographs by Jindrich Štyrský. It includes a 30-page postscript by Karel Teige who also designed the cover, typography and plates. The book was released in the early spring of 1929 and sold out before it was censored by authorities a few months later. The belated censorship and confiscation attempts resulted in an uproar. This is a landmark publication and a fine document of the creative ferment of the Czech avant-garde. It signaled a shift of focus in the movement of the Poetism spearheaded by Teige, Toyen and Nezval in the Devětsil movement to embracing deeper psychological and mythic undercurrents. As a visual statement it comprises some of Štyrský's finest artwork to appear in book form. The imagery and execution herald a shift in Štyrský's work from his Artificialism he had developed a few years earlier to a definite incorporation of surrealist and chance elements in his highly individual approach which would inform and characterize the artist's output for the remainder of his life. Notwithstanding the debt of the artist to the poet, the images pay no direct relationship to the text. Štyrský wrote at this time, " The graphic description of verbal metaphors is distracting to true lovers of poetry." Maldoror's author figured prominently in Štyrský's psyche and he returned to Lautréamont's themes again and again. In 1939 he stated that Lautréamont was the greatest of modern poets. Condition: the entire book and contents fine, very crisp. Worldcat finds this in 10 North American libraries. Refs: Teige, ed: ReD 3, 1929-1931, No.1 pp. 3-5; No.2 pp4-48; Bydžovská & Srp: Jindrich Štyrský, 2007 pp. 159-164, inter alia; Lenka Bydžovská: Lautréamont vu par Jindrich Štyrský, in Revue des études slaves, 74-1, 2002.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 3929
- Title
- Maldoror.
- Author
- Comte de Lautréamont (Isadore Ducasse); Jindrich Štyrský
- Illustrator
- Jindrich Styrsky
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First and only
- Publisher
- Jan Fromek
- Place of Publication
- Prague
- Date Published
- 1929
- Pages
- 123 (v)
- Size
- 18.5x13 cm.
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- KAREL TEIGE BOOK DESIGN, LAUTREAMONT MALDOROR STYRSKY, TYRSKÝ JINDRICH MALDOROR, CZECH AVANT-GARDE, SURREALISM, PRAGUE SURREALISTS, AVANT-GARDE TCHEQUE, SURREALISME TSCHECHISCHE AVANTGARDE, SURREALISMUS,
- Bookseller catalogs
- Central European avant-gardes; Czech avant-garde;
Terms of Sale
Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books
About the Seller
Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books
About Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Top Edge Gilt
- Top edge gilt refers to the practice of applying gold or a gold-like finish to the top of the text block (the edges the pages...
- Remainder
- Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Worldcat
- Worldcat is a collaborative effort produced by OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) and supported and used by 72,000 libraries...
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...