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book (design) story #201

georges duhamel:
das neue moskau

rotapfelverlag, zürich/leipzig, 1928
printer: gebr. fretz a-g., zürich
size: 20 x 13 cm
designer: walter cyliax

among the first typographers who introduced modernist graphic designs in switzerland was walter cyliax (1899-1945), a german who worked for the large printers fretz in zürich. a nice design by cyliax is featured in this influential book by jan tschichold. in the late thirties walter cyliax gave in to the temptation to take over an "aryanised" print shop in vienna – a move which didn't bring him any luck: cyliax died in a bomb raid in 1945.

this front and back cover for a book by georges duhamel (1884-1966) features photomontages, asymmetric sans-serif title, and a bright red author's name.

the red spine bears white sans-serif capitals.

cyliax is credited in the impressum for the cover design and typography. the latter is tasteful, however rather traditional.