Rei Van Smeeckelingen
's-Hertogenbosch: Ursus Maior, [1944]. Limited first edition. Softcover. 1/500. Duodecimo. [10 unpaginated leaves]. Tan printed dust jacket with red star insignia and brown lettering on the front cover. Tan paper wrappers. This is copy #299 from a limited edition of 500 copies hand-numbered on the colophon (of a total edition of 550 printed). A finely printed and illustrated poem from Surnamese-Dutch playwright and poet Lodewijk 'Lou' Lichtveld (1903 – 1996), inspired by his experiences as a member of the Dutch Resistance during WWII. Candestinely published under the pseudonym Joost van den Vondel, during the German occupation of the Netherlands, the poem, in 16 stanzas, contains powerful apocalyptic and biblical imagery in reference to the Nazis and the horrors they unleashed on the Jews and the Dutch population, and ultimately hopes for salvation. The publication includes two finely printed lithographic illustrations, hand-colored by A.W.J.M. Noyons (an anonymous artist). The first image (frontispiece) depicts a German soldier pointing a gun at a crucified man, the second shows a mother and daughter looking at a train deporting Jews.
Text in Dutch.
Dust jacket with minor rubbing to extremities, and a few minor smudges on the back cover. Interior with light offsetting due to age toning on the half-title page and the rear free endpaper. Dj in very good+, wrappers and interior in near fine condition overall. vg+ to near fine. Item #48432
Price: $250.00