wiedler.ch

book (design) story #479

b. traven:
sonnen-schöpfung

büchergilde gutenberg, zürich, 1936
size: ?? x ?? cm
designer: bruno dressler

those who have followed these book stories may have noticed my enthusiasm for books by legendary author b. traven (1890?-1969). so i keep smuggling them in, even when they don't really conform to the criterias of modernist book design.

"sonnen-schöpfung – indianische legende" (creation of the sun – indian legend) has never been published in english as far as i know.

according to the foreword this story was especially commissioned by the büchergilde gutenberg in zürich, traven's exclusive publisher until their break-up at end of the 1930s – see also story 311. the book was a numbered limited edition presented to büchergilde officials and not for general sale (this copy is unnumbered).

büchergilde founder and manager bruno dressler (1879-1952), a trained typographer himself, is credited for the book design which is neat but not particularly modernist.