Mesibah Shel Sofrei Eretz Yisrael (Anthology of Writers in the Land of Israel)
Tel Aviv: Book Bureau of the Union of Hebrew Writers and Literature, 1926. First edition. Softcover. Small folio. 110 columns (in Hebrew numbering) + 9 pages. Tan printed wrappers with avant-garde typography ("Haim" font) on the front cover in red. Typography designed by the acclaimed Hungarian-born graphic designer, painter and architect István Irsai (1896-1968). A scarce anthology of Hebrew writers in mandatory Palestine, this publication contains more than 70 contributions on a variety of subjects, from many of the most distinguished literary, academic and intellectual figures of the time including the likes of Mordechai Avi-Shaul (1898-1988), Avraham Avrunin (1869-1957), Yosef Aharonovich (1877-1937), Elisheva Bikhovski (1888-1949), S.Y. Agnon, Avigdor Hameiri, Ya'akov David Kamson (1900-1980), David Shimoni (David Shimonovich, 1891-1956) and Avraham Shlonsky (1900 – 1973). Includes a section of period advertisements at the rear. List of contributors on the front cover.
Text in Hebrew.
Wrappers sunned, with foxing and staining to the front cover. Some rubbing to extremities and chipping along the spine. Interior front cover, title page and a few sporadic pages throughout with some foxing. Wrappers in good-, interior in good+ condition overall. Scarce. g- to g+. Item #46914
Hebrew title: מסבה של סופרי אּ"י
Alternate title: מסבה של סופרי אּרץ ישראל
Designer's name: פסח עיר-שי
István Irsai (aka Pesach Ir-Shai, 1896-1968) was a Hungarian-born graphic designer, architect and painter. He is well known for inventing the now ubiquitous modernist Hebrew font "Haim", which was named after the writer Haim Nachman Bialik, an early supporter of Irsai's efforts. He was a prolific graphic designer in both Hungary and Palestine (later Israel).
Price: $2,500.00