Hans der wackere Turnersmann
Leipzig: Gut Heil-Verlag, ca. 1911. First edition. Hardcover. Folio. 24pp. Original red quarter cloth over color illustrated boards with red and black lettering on cover, protected by modern mylar. Decorative endpapers. Title page printed in red and black with decorative border. Rare and only edition of 'A seemingly classical gymnastics picture book, no records in any relevant children's library. Life of a German gymnast starting at birth to the time when he establishes his own homestead. Gymnastics accompany him all through his life (Geßmann, Sport 207; the copy referenced there only has sixteen pages with cover photo of our copy presented as frontispiece.)' Chapters 4 "Hans as a soldier" and 5 "The lucky Hans" (as the victor of a gymnastic competition), seem to be missing in the copy referenced by Geßmann. Illustrated with beautiful color illustration, many full page, the book emphasizes the patriotic attitude of the time. Text in German, Gothic script. Some wear along edges of binding with light staining. Interior rubbed. Overall in good condition. g. Item #46702
Price: $950.00