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book (design) story #229

kurt tucholsky:
deutschland, deutschland über alles

universum-bücherei, berlin, 1929
printer: pass & garleb, a.-g., berlin
size: 24 x 19 cm
designer: paul urban, john heartfield (photomontantages and typography)

in 1929 german writer kurt tucholski (1890-1935) and phontomontage genius john heartfield (1891-1968) published this book whose title refers to the text of a song that became germany's national anthem in 1922 (today only the 3rd verse is sung). with its provovative text and photomontages it was a scandal - and success.

it was originally published by the neuer deutsche verlag , berlin, with a now famous cover montage by heartfield (see here). in the same year, a slightly changed second edition came out that was also taken on by the socialist book club "universum-bücherei" as their 54th publication. this edition (shown here) came with a cover designed by paul urban (1901- c.1938) who designed many books for the universum-bücherei and later for querido in amsterdam. the blackletter type seems to mock german nationalism.

the typography of the title page is rather traditional, ...

... but what counts is the brilliant content – above: where is germany's money invested? here or maybe here? (pictures of houses) no, it is here (soldiers and tanks).

a satiric text on german sport , with matching photomontage by heartfield, ...

... the illustration below on the left speaks for itself ...