Beautiful book covers from Weimar Germany

A new Taschen collection brings together ground-breaking book designs by the likes of Jan Tschichold, Paul Leni and Georg Salter.

 

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Publisher Taschen is bringing together 1,000 book jacket designs from Weimar Germany in a new publication.

The Book Cover in the Weimar Republic showcases a series of designs from 1920s and 1930s Germany, including works by Jan Tschichold, Paul Leni and Georg Salter.

The Weimar Republic existed between the First and Second World Wars in Germany and saw a cultural boom, with movements such as Dada art and Bauhaus design taking hold.

Book design was a key part of this cultural movement, with Taschen saying Weimar Germany brought about “some of the most outstanding and forward-thinking book designs in the world”.

Taschen’s collection is edited by antiquarian book seller Jürgen Holstein, whose previous works include Blickfang – a collection of Berlin-based Weimar book designs.


 

The Book Cover in the Weimar Republic, edited by Jürgen Holstein, is published by Taschen priced at £44.99. All images copyright Taschen.

Egon Erwin Kisch. Klassischer Journalismus. Berlin: Rudolf Kaemmerer, 1923. Cover illustration by George G. Kobbe.
Egon Erwin Kisch. Klassischer Journalismus. Berlin: Rudolf Kaemmerer, 1923. Cover illustration by George G. Kobbe.
Um uns die Stadt.  Edited by Robert Seitz and Heinz Zucker Berlin: Sieben Stäbe-Verlag, 1931. Cover by Martin Weinberg.
Um uns die Stadt. Edited by Robert Seitz and Heinz Zucker Berlin: Sieben Stäbe-Verlag, 1931. Cover by Martin Weinberg.
G. Zeitschrift für elementare Gestaltung.  Edited by Hans Richter.  No. 5/6: Film. Berlin (independently published, 1926).  Cover by Paul Leni.
G. Zeitschrift für elementare Gestaltung. Edited by Hans Richter. No. 5/6: Film. Berlin (independently published, 1926). Cover by Paul Leni.
Alfred Döblin. Berlin Alexanderplatz. Die Geschichte vom Franz Biberkopf. Print run: 41–45,000. Berlin: S. Fischer, 1931.  Cover by Georg Salter.
Alfred Döblin. Berlin Alexanderplatz. Die Geschichte vom Franz Biberkopf. Print run: 41–45,000. Berlin: S. Fischer, 1931. Cover by Georg Salter.
Erich Kästner. Emil und die Detektive. Ein Roman für Kinder.  Berlin: Williams & Co. (1931).  Cover illustration by Walter Trier.
Erich Kästner. Emil und die Detektive. Ein Roman für Kinder. Berlin: Williams & Co. (1931). Cover illustration by Walter Trier.
Otto Mänchen-Helfen. Drittel der Menschheit. Berlin: Der Bücherkreis, 1932.  Cover by Jan Tschichold.
Otto Mänchen-Helfen. Drittel der Menschheit. Berlin: Der Bücherkreis, 1932. Cover by Jan
Tschichold.
Stefan Lorant. Wir vom Film. Berlin: Theater und Film Verlagsgesellschaft (1928). Cover drawing by Dugo (András Szenes).
Stefan Lorant. Wir vom Film. Berlin: Theater und Film Verlagsgesellschaft (1928). Cover drawing by Dugo (András Szenes).
Sacco und Vanzetti.  Berlin: Mopr-Verlag, 1928. Cover by Pewas.
Sacco und Vanzetti. Berlin: Mopr-Verlag, 1928. Cover by Pewas.
Polyphem. Mit dem rechten Auge.  Berlin: “Der Deutschenspiegel” (1925). Cover illustration by Garvens.
Polyphem. Mit dem rechten Auge. Berlin: “Der Deutschenspiegel” (1925). Cover illustration by Garvens.
Ignatz Straßnoff. Ich, der Hochstapler Ignatz Strassnoff.  Berlin: Verlag Die Schmiede, 1926. Cover by Georg Salter.
Ignatz Straßnoff. Ich, der Hochstapler Ignatz Strassnoff. Berlin: Verlag Die Schmiede, 1926. Cover by Georg Salter.
Erste russische Kunstausstellung, Berlin 1922. Galerie van Diemen & Co., Berlin: Verlag Internationale Arbeiterhilfe, 1922. Jacket illustration by El Lissitzky.
Erste russische Kunstausstellung, Berlin 1922. Galerie van Diemen & Co., Berlin: Verlag Internationale Arbeiterhilfe, 1922. Jacket illustration by El Lissitzky.
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