Lev Haas (2 results)

Softcover. Condition: vg- to vg+. First edition. Quarto. 142, [4]pp. Tan paper wrappers. Pages uncut. Powerful memorial publication containing photographic and historical material documentation of the horrors perpetrated upon the Jewish community of Slovakia by the Nazis during the Holocaust (1939-1945). Although there is some initial text, most of the history is conveyed visually, with the book being profusely illustrated throughout with finely produced b/w photogravure images after harrowing original photographs and facsimile images of relevant original documents of all kinds. The design, visual layout (including some photo-collage) and occasional illustrated images (including the frontispiece) are by Czech-Jewish artist and designer Lev (Leo) Haas (1901-1983). The work was published by the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia. This variant contains initial text, and captions throughout in both English and Hebrew. The final three pages contain a section of notes on the documents which is entirely in English. Wrappers with some small tears along the spine and chipping at the tail of the spine. A few pages throughout with some small closed tears to the margins of the pages. All pages clean with vibrant images throughout. Wrappers in very good-, interior in very good+ condition overall. Hebrew title: ???? ????? ???????:? ??????? ??????? This English/Hebrew variant is more scarce than the Slovak-language version, issued under the title "Tragédia Slovenských Zidov: Fotografie a Dokumenty".

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Oblong Octavo (8 1/8 x 5 3/4 inches; 208 x 145 mm), 75, [5] pages, in wrappers (softcover). A rare book of cartoons published by the Czech Communist Party newspaper, Rudé právo (the "RP" in the book title). Antonin Pelc and Lev Haas drew the cartoons, which are pro-Communist, anti-Nazi, anti-American, and anti-Western alliance. Holobrádek (a pseudonym) supplied short verses to accompany each cartoon. The book appeared in 1947, a year before the Communist seizure of power in Czechoslovakia. Oddly for a Communist publication, the cover features a cartoon by Pelc that misspells the name of Klement Gottwald, the Communist leader (it shows only one "t" in Gottwald). A sign displayed in the cartoon reads (translating from the Czech): "The construction of a two-year plan is carried out by Gotwald and others." That's a fair representation of the sometimes heavy-handed propaganda in the book, which depicts American businessmen as fat money-grubbers and Joseph Stalin as a heroic figure who crushed the Nazis. That said, all the cartoons are striking and show real artistic skill. Indeed, the book is an excellent example of Eastern European propaganda in the early years of the Cold War. Text entirely in Czech. OCLC shows only two institutional holdings, at the National Library of the Czech Republic and at Erasmus University Rotterdam. OCLC 85422740. RARE. CONDITION: Wrappers and pages toned due to use of cheap paper, lower wrapper soiled. A Very Good or better copy of a scarce publication.