Kitvei H. N. Bialik u-Mivhar Targumav. Arba'ah Sefarim (The Writings of H. N. Bialik, and a Selection of His Translations) (SIGNED BY BIALIK AND BUDKO, WITH 10 ADDITIONAL SIGNED WOODCUTS) [Complete in 4 Volumes]
Berlin: Hoveve ha-Shirah ha-Ivrit, 1923. Deluxe limited first edition. Hardcover. 1/200. Quartos. Vol.1: 364 pp. Vol.2: 333 pp. Vol.3: 329 pp. Vol. 4: 185 pp. Full modern vellum boards with gilt lettering and decorative tooling on the front covers. Gilt ruling on the spines. Top edges of book block in gilt. Each volume housed in a custom tan cloth slipcase, with a gilt-lettered brown leather label pasted on the spine. Yellow ribbon markers. All volumes of this deluxe limited edition are hand-numbered and signed in pencil by both Bialik and Budko at the bottom of colophon on the final page. This is copy #14 in Hebrew numerals, from a total of 200 copies. Woodblock devices preceding title pages. All title pages with decorative woodblock borders in black. Illustrated frontispiece portrait lithograph after an etching of Bialik, by artist Max Lieberman (1848-1935), signed in pencil underneath.
This set is comprised of all of the original writings of the acclaimed Hebrew-language poet and writer Hayyim Nahman Bialik (1873-1934), until 1923. Also included are two of his more significant translations; Cervantes' "Don Quixote" and Friedrich Schiller's "William Tell". The first two volumes contain all of Bialik's poems ("Shirim", Vol.1) and prose writings ("Sipurim Divrei Sifrut", Vol.2). The third volume contains his translation of Don Quixote, illustrated throughout with b/w reproductions after images from the 1859 Barcelona edition of Don Quixote (including an illustrated frontispiece portrait of Cervantes)*. Bialik's translation of the famed novel was first published in Odessa in 1912, and was the first edition in Hebrew. The final volume contains his translation of William Tell, first appearing here, and not subsequently issued individually until three years later, in 1926. Table of contents at the rear for the first two volumes.
The finely printed deluxe edition contains woodcut designs and illustrations throughout by acclaimed artist Joseph Budko (1888-1940). These include countless decorative woodblock initials and borders for all volumes, as well as decorative vignettes as tailpieces. Most notable are Budko's b/w woodcut illustrations in the first two volumes, totaling 25 images (including 4 larger full page images in vol.2). This set is special in that 10 of the illustrations in vol.2 are signed underneath in pencil, by Budko.
Text throughout in Hebrew.
Slipcases with a few light smudges. Bindings with some minor to light foxing, smudges and/or markings to the covers. First and fourth volumes with some rubbing along the spines. Volumes 1-3 with some minor cracking along the hinges of the spine, which has been repaired. First and third volumes with starting at interior covers and loosening of the binding. Interiors quite clean overall, with only the most sporadic minor smudges and small stains to a few pages. Images throughout vibrant and clean. Light foxing and smudges to a few of the interior covers. Minor age toning to edges of pages throughout. Bindings protected in modern mylar. Slipcases in near fine, bindings in very good-, interiors in good+ to very good+ condition overall. g+ to vg+. Item #50388
* "El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha". Barcelona, Tomás Gorchs, 1859.
Hebrew title: כתבי ח.נ. ביאליק ומבחר תרגומיו. ארבעה ספרים
Author: ביאליק, חיים נחמן
Publication: ברלין, חובבי השירה העברית, תרפ״ג
Alternate transliteration: Chovevei Hashira Ha'ivrit, Hovevei Ha-shira Ha-ivrit.
Price: $4,000.00