23.5 x 16cm. 202pp. Hard boards. Profusely illustrated in b/w after works by Archipenko, Chagall, Grosz, Kisling, Leger, Modigliani, Survage, Teige, et. al. Editors: Jaroslav Seifert and Karel Teige. Original printed wrappers with central black circular emblem and bound into vintage plain brown and spine printed boards as issued.

First edition of the manifest almanac of the vanguard revolutionist Czech 'Devetsil' group, as edited by the poet Seifert and the designer and theorist Teige. Initiated in the Modern Cultural Union (Prague), 'Devetsil' was ground zero for all Czech artistic and literary avant-garde activity during the 1920's and early 30's, and was (according to Teige): "a focus for socialist and revolutionary trends in culture". Text contributions by Seifert, Teige, Nezval, Honzl, Goll, Biebl, et. al. + a short trilingual summary (German, French and Russian) of the group's aims as appendix.

Some minor expert repairs and reinforcements to wrappers and some large stains to the rear covers, and the evidence of rough paper on the end papers where an ex-libris label has been removed before else a very good example of this crucial document. Rare.

20.2 x 13.5cm, 342pp. Original wrappers. A collection of the works of KH Macha the 19th century Czech poet who died in his twenties during an act of heroism saving people from a fire. A figure of melancholic romanticism which inspired Styrsky and the Czech avantgarde but was, much to the disgust of the former grouping, idealised by more mainstream poets leading eventually to the publication by Nezval, Toyen and Styrsky of Ani Labut Ani Luna (Neither swan nor moon) in 1936. Here the typography is by Vit Obrtel (1901-1988) who was a founder member of Devetsil with Teige in 1922 and perhaps the most minimalist of the group.

This is an unnumbered copy aside from the 300 copies on Japon and the 50 du tete copes on Van Gelder. Minor wear to wrappers, some production creases to spine but really a very good ++. Scarce.

21 x 14cm, 108pp. Pictorial wrappers. First edition of this polemic work by the author. A far cry from the heady days of Devetsil. A close to fine example.