wiedler.ch

book (design) story #372

georg kaiser:
kolportage

verlag die schmiede, berlin, 1924
printer: ohlenroth'sche buchdruckerei georg richters erfurt
size: 15 x 12 cm
designer: georg salter (cover)

this is a tiny book, but its design must have stood out among others in a shop window: a laminated golden cover with an odd-shaped blackletter title turning bloody red over a slanted newspaper clipping – an early masterpiece of book jacket/cover design virtuoso georg salter (1997-1967). a jack of all styles and techniques, salter was modern in his approach to attract attention through surprising, unusual visual ideas which included mocking "bad" design.

the plays by georg kaiser (1978-1945) were very popular in germany before they were banned by the nazis in 1933. kaiser emigrated to ascona, switzerland, in 1938. his "colportage" is a comedy about a young man who was brought up by his mother with the false identity of an earl. when the truth is finally discovered, his noble fiancee doesn't actually care, and they emigrate to the usa.

the frontis shows "photos" of the "false" and "true" earls.