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book (design) story #159

franz jung:
hausierer

der bücherkreis gmbh, berlin, 1931
printer: vorwärts buchdruckerei, berlin
size: 19 x 13 cm
designer: jan tschichold

franz jung (1888-1963) was a writer and left-wing political activist with a rather adventurous life. after his expressionist debut and dadaist phase, he became a communist activist. in 1920 franz jung captured a ship and sailed to russia to meet lenin. back in germany he was jailed for this, but managed to escape. he worked in the soviet union for some time before returning to germany using a false identity. after 1933 he was part of the illegal "rote kämpfer" (red fighters) group, together with alexander schwab (see book story 40). during the war years he was involved in antifascist activities in different european countries. in 1948 jung emigrated to the usa, but returned to germany in 1960.

hucksters – a sociocritical novel is the full title of this book franz jung published in 1931. it describes how the chaotic capitalist economy in germany drives people into immorality.

from 1930 to 1933 jan tschichold (1902-1974) designed most of the books published by the socialist bücherkreis book club. in this example he used the same sans-serif for the author's name and title, in different sizes.

bücherkreis editions with original dustjackets are rather difficult to find today. one reason for this: apparently bücherkreis editions delivered to subscribers came without jacket, as jürgen holstein points out in his great documentation "blickfang" (isbn 3000147861); only the copies offered in bookshops seem to have had a dustjacket which served as a little advertising poster (including the price). and of these many lost their rather fragile jackets over the years.

jan tschichold applied a standardised format for many bücherkreis jackets: title and author's name in a flashy type, short descriptive text, price at the bottom – but varying the typefaces and colours. "hausierer" is one of tschichold's earliest bücherkreis jackets – along with book 77 which also still shows the old bücherkreis logo. i have not seen this pink coloured jacket with black and red writing documented anwhere.