Szabad Május 1.: Szabad Május Elseje (Free May Day)
Budapest: Magyar kommunista Part; Magyar Szocialdemokrata Part; Szakszervezetek Orszagos tanacsa, 1945. First edition. Paperback. Quarto. VII, 136pp. Original pictorial wrappers with red lettering on covers. Scarce Hungarian communist propaganda work employing photomontage in the manner of El Lissitzky and Rodchenko. This is a very Soviet-styled pictorial history of the first May Day celebration in war-torn Budapest, following a brief period of liberation Hungarians experienced with the Soviet victory and their complete occupation of the country by this date. While the actual takeover did not officially occur until 1948, the communist presence was fully entrenched in government and military posts and the coming tragic destiny virtually assured. Artistically this book employs many elements common to the great Soviet photo books of the 1930s and is possibly the first postwar expression of that vision. Robert Byssz is credited with fashioning the book design and assembly of numerous images from Hungarian photojournalists and film stills. One of the more important photobooks of 20th century Hungary, and an important document of the time. Light age-wear on wraps, light creasing in lower corner of front wrapper, with slight rubbing and sunning along edges. Spine intact but reinforced nicely with clear tape. Title page with age toning in margins and minor chip at top right corner of page. Moderate age-toning throughout. Text in Hungarian. Wraps in overall good, interior in good+ condition. g to g+. Item #38150
Price: $1,250.00