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book (design) story #406

martha niggli:
der rödendalhof

büchergilde gutenberg, zürich, 1941
printer: buchdruckerei volkstimme, st.gallen
size: 21 x 14 cm
designer: richard paul lohse

richard paul lohse (1902-1988) designed around a hundred books for büchergilde gutenberg – see story 278 for background info. lohse is not credited in the book but it is listed in the lohse catalogue (isbn 3775709916).

the photgraphic jacket shows a white dove – maybe symbolising peace? i don't know since i haven't read the book. there are vignettes of bird wings on the cover and title page. the title typeface is in the style of incised roman capitals.

the story by swiss author martha niggli (1889-1975) is set in sweden. the book was one of the büchergilde books on the nazi's blacklist, according to beate messerschmidt (isbn 3880733333), but i don't know the reason. this copy is an (identical) 1945 printing of the 1941 german first edition.

chapters start with a "incised" roman initial.