A "Magnificent Example of Controlled Printing," in Very Fine Dignified Red Morocco

[Title in Greek]: ILIAS.

(BREMER PRESSE). HOMER.

(Munich: Bremer Press, 1923). 351 x 356 mm. (13 3/4 x 8 7/8"). [243] leaves.Edited by Dr. Eduard Schwartz. No. LVIII of 615 COPIES.

ELEGANT CONTEMPORARY RED CRUSHED MOROCCO, blind meander roll at head and foot of covers and spine, raised bands, gilt Greek lettering, leather hinges, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. In a linen clamshell box lined with silk and backed with matching red morocco. Grolier Club, "A Century for the Century," 12; Ransom, p. 256; Cave, pp. 143-45; Franklin, pp. 162-63. In immaculate condition.

Virtually unchanged from the day it left the Bremer premises, this is a pristine copy of one of the finest works produced by an important Continental private press. The Bremer Presse was founded in 1911 by Willy Wiegand (1884-1961) and others, and was active until just before World War II. Cave flatly declares that Bremer had an influence that "was probably greater and longer lasting than that of any of the other fine presses." It certainly is universally considered the most successful and influential of the German private presses, and Ransom says that "perhaps no other organization, private or public, has attempted closer coordination and interrelation of scholarship, type design, and book design." The considerable success enjoyed by Bremer resided in typography both refined and innovative, with the highest quality of materials, and with meticulous presswork. As was often the case with Bremer publications, the exceptionally attractive Greek type used here was designed especially for this production by Wiegand. This "Iliad" was followed the next year by a companion volume of the "Odyssey," and these two volumes (which often appear on the market separately) are widely considered among the great 20th century private press productions. The Grolier Club included them in "A Century for the Century," their millennium exhibition of 100 "superlative" 20th century books; the exhibition catalog describes the Bremer Presse Homer as "among the most beautiful" of the press' works. Franklin writes that the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" "are magnificent examples of controlled printing." The oversized text block on thick paper here is heavy enough that it needs more substantial support than is given by the publisher's paper-covered boards, and our refined (and too-good-to-be-unsigned) red morocco binding--made with top quality materials and worked with superb skill--furnishes that, all the while providing a decidedly premium appearance. (ST20562)

Price: $3,600.00