wiedler.ch

book (design) story #488

cheng tcheng:
meine mutter

gustav kiepenheuer verlag, berlin, 1929
printer: offizin haag-drugulin a.g., leipzig
size: ?? x ?? cm
designer: georg salter (jacket+cover)

tcheng cheng (1899-1996) was a chinese author living in paris. his book "ma mère" was first published in 1928.

the first german edition from 1929 sports a striking jacket and cover design by georg salter (1897-1966). the laquered jacket evokes a chinese mood, with bright colours and a stylised drawing of what i guess is a red paper lantern.

the lettering also imitates a "chinese style".

the preface is by paul valéry.

there are also notes by the translator, paul cohen-portheim, explaining that he didn't correct the somewhat "strange" language style of a chinese writing in french.