wiedler.ch

book (design) story #297

otto flückiger:
die schweiz aus der vogelschau

eugen rentsch verlag, erlenbach-zürich / leipzig, 1931
size: 23 x 16 cm
photographer: walter mittelholzer
designer: pierre gauchat (jacket), paul renner (cover drawing)

bird's eye view of switzerland shows 100 aerial photos by swiss aviation pioneer walter mittelholzer (1894-1937).

a first edition containing much more photos was published in 1926. this third edition came with a dustjacket designed by pierre gauchat (1902-1956). the pictorial montage with a bird and a relief map of switzerland, and especially the diagonally set lowercase stencil typeface lend a modernist touch. the typeface is very close to the "futura black" typeface (see story 266) , ...

... although the letter "g" is different from the original: this trademark "o with a curl also appears in the top right corner – "g" for "gauchat" i guess.

the cover is in a different, more traditional style similar to the first edition of 1926 for which paul renner (1878-1956) had designed this cover drawing.

the introductory text is by otto flückiger (1882-1942) who was a professor for geography at the university of zürich .

below a photo of a zeppelin near basel, ...

... and a view of winterthur, switzerland, where i live.