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book (design) story #167

bernhard kellermann:
der tunnel

s. fischer verlag, berlin, 1931
size: 19 x 13 cm
designer: georg salter

although not really in the focus of this "modernism" collection, the man who was one of the most prolific book jacket/cover designers of his time has to be mentioned with at least a few of his many hundred designs: georg salter (1897-1967) is maybe not considered "modernist" in a purist sense, because he didn't adhere to one particular style. but his flashy, often unusual dustjackets reveal a design approach that is definitely "modern". in 1931 georg trump hired salter to direct the commercial art department at the höhere graphische fachschule berlin. due to his jewish roots salter lost his job in 1933 and emigrated to the usa in 1934 where "george" was able to continue his successful career. if you want to know more about salter's book designs of his berlin years, get the excellent book by jürgen holstein (isbn 300010772x).

salter's spectacular jacket for the novel "der tunnel" by bernhard kellermann (1879-1951) is a standout. kellermann's book was a bestseller when it was first published in 1913. it is an expressionist science-fiction novel about a railway tunnel under the atlantic connecting europe and america. salter's (aero)dynamic picture of a "streamliner" train in a huge tunnel is remarkable: as far as i know, the first diesel-electric train in an aerodynamic streamlined design – the burlington zephyr – came into service only in 1934, two years after this edition (but i am no train expert).

several films based on the novel were produced, e.g. one by curtis bernhardt in 1933 starring gustav gründgens. another book by kellermann, "der 9. november", was banned by the nazis.

the cover and the typography (in a fraktur typeface) are in a more traditional style.