Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Die Volksbühne in Berlin. Wesen und Geschichte [WITH] Die Volksbühne. Erstes Heft. II. Jahrgang, Issues September 1893 and Juni 1894 [WITH] Freie Volksbühne Werbeheft 1913-1914. 4 Vols.

Mehring, Franz; Julius Bab (eds.)

Berlin: Freie Volksbühne, 1893, 1894, 1913, 1919. First edition. Softcover. Octavo (3), Quarto (1), Octavo (3). 46 (1), 16, 16, 38pp. Original llustrated aubergine wrappers with black lettering on cover (Voklsbühne/Wesen) and three stapled tan wrappers with black lettering on covers, two with decorative frame, one illustrated and black lettering on cover. The aubergine pamphlet contains various contributions by Max Osborn, Leo Kastenberg, Max Deri, and August Müller on the essence and the history (Wesen und Geschichte) of the Theater movement starting with its founding in 1890, a contribution of the music at the theater, the actual building and location, and the bylaws of the theater. Profusely illustrated with b/w photographs of the theater building which was designed by Oskar Kaufmann. The pamphlet concludes with a number of indexes, e.g. the list of plays performed at the "Freie Volksbühne" from 1891 - 1914, a second for the same time frame of the "Neue Freie Volksbühne," and a third with plays produced after September 1914. Laid in two postmarked postcards (one addressed to Grete Nordegg signed by Licho, director at the Neue Volks-Theater, the other a request for tickets addressed to the theater and signed by Gert Koch), a member newsletter, an offset color reproduction of the auditorium, and a bookmark asking "Are you a member of the Volksbühne yet?" with information about the theater program. The two issues of Die Volksbühne featuring playwright Hermann Sudemann in one and the play "Das Fest auf der Bastille" in the other. And finally a promotional pamphlet from 1913 with mission statement, prognosis, organization of the Freie Volksbühne and a description of incidents of harassment by the Berlin police and judiciary relating to some of the religiously slated performances including a number of vehement voices in the Theater's defense, e.g. Alfred Kerr's and Richard Strauss' among others. Light wear along edges of these publication, small chips, tears and creasing and sunned spine of the quarto publication. Pamphlets in overall good condition. g. Item #36884

Price: $450.00