Search Results: Estonia from Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books

Tartu: Loodus, 1926 Octavo, wrappers, 155pp. “Time Grimaces,” a novel in serial parts, here complete in book form while Gailit worked as a freelance writer in Tartu. He exiled with his family to Sweden where he continued to work and publish. Fine cover design by Jaan Vahtra. Worldcat locates no library holdings.

Tartu: Odamehe Kirjastus, 1921 Octavo, wrappers, 94pp. Poems by August Alle (1890-1952), one of the participants in the Siuru movement which gave rise to Estonian modernism. Cover by Ado Vabbe and gravure frontispiece by expressionist R.J. Paris. No library copies held in North America.

Tartu: Laakman, 1928 Quarto 23.5x17cm., wrappers, 171pp. First issue (all published) A journal launched to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Estonian Republic. Translated as „Cultural Notes. Thoughts About the Struggle for the Republic:“ Highly critical essays, poems and statements in this commemorative journal. It provoked such a strong reaction that it was shut down by the authorities and confiscated without much circulation, with only a few hundred copies actually released. Cover design by Jaan Vahtra. Worldcat finds two library holdings, none in North America. Rare, this copy near fine.

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1927 Octavo, wrappers, 266pp. Cover design by Peet Arenilt. Vallak was the pseudonym for Peeter Pedaias (1893-1959) initially studied painting but moved to fiction as a means to combine realism of the commoner with fantasy in expressionist novels of the 1920s. Later conformed to the dictates of the day. No copies of this first edition found in worldcat. A 2005 edition without this cover design still finds no North American library holdings.

Tartu: Odamees, 1919 Published in 12 numbers from 1919-1921. Large octavos, 34 to 68pp. each, Nos. 1-12 (all published), bound in ½-calf. Each issue contains full-page illustrations, with many original graphics. Complete issues are bound here without covers. Each issue showcases graphic work of a single artist. Among them are August Roosileht (Nos 1, 9), Jaan Vahtra (no.3), Paul Liivak (no. 4), Felix Valloton (no.5), F. Kask (no.7), Voldemar Kangro-Pool (no. 8, 10). Each issue includes literary contributions by Estonia s leading modernists ---Marie Under, Gustav Suits, August Alle, Friedebert Tuglas, Johannes Semper, the avant-gardist Johannes Barbarus, as well as numerous translations of Walt Whitman, Rilke, Huysmans, inter alia. The editor F. Tuglas was a driving force behind Estonian publishing in the first years of the new republic. ILO was published during the postwar period which saw a plethora of short-lived journals; it enjoys a high prestige in its tone and vision that stood above the… Read More

Tartu: Arlekiin, 1920 Octavo, wrappers, 20pp. Fine abstract cover design by unattributed artist., a two-color linocut. The first appearance of Kulbin s work on cubism (1915) in Estonian, and probably a seminal work influencing the course of modernism in Estonia for the coming decade, especially in Tartu where abstraction was championed in the early years of the Pallas Art School. Nikolai Kulbin (1868-1917) was a painter, art theorist and driving force in Russian modernism as a futurist. Translated into Estonian by A. Kivikas. This has a striking two-color linocut cover, without attribution, and is likely to have been done by one of the artists in Tartu --- Ado Vabbe (1892-1961} has a gouache work from 1919 which looks very close to this and it can be surmised to be of the same hand. Vabbe was one of the strongest Estonian abstractionists and continued in this vein long after public support had waned from the early years of experimentation in search of a national art form. Notwithstanding that,… Read More

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1937 Large quarto, wrappers, 395pp. Illustrations and cover by Ernst Kollom (1908-1974), master graphic artist who studied in Moscow and was influenced by the Bauhaus. Aadu or Adolf Hint (1910-1989) was a writer who focused on life in the seacoast. He later became a public figure, sitting on the Estonian SSR Council. „Golden Gate“ is his third novel. No library holdings found for this first edition, and only one for a postwar printing. 350

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1930 Octavo, wrappers, 148pp. Raudsepp (1883-1952) was a celebrated playwright who became renowned with this play, a social parody on the hollow self-esteem and ambitions of the farmer Mikumärdi, his summer female guests and the adventures that ensue. His plays were performed in Finland and Latvia commencing with this. Fine cover design by Peet Aren. One copy found in North American libraries.

Tartu: Eesti Kirjansikkude Liidu, 1937 Octavo 20 x 13.5 cm, wrappers, 96pp. Valmar Adams (1899-1993) was an Estonian author and literary scholar often working under different names. His literary output in the 1920s had a great effect on Estonian literature. The present work, Burning Bush, shows a strong influence of Russian poetic tradition, which provided a lifelong source for his poetic inspiration. Cover design by B. Lukasilt. Rare, two copies found in North American libraries.

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1931 Large octavo 20.5x13.5 cm., wrappers, 132pp. Cover design by Peet Aren. Raudsepp (1883-1952) was a prolific playwright who was also prominent as a journalist and critic in the new Estonian Republic. He perished in Siberian labor camp. This work a comedy in three acts. Abstract cover with metallic inks by Aren is perhaps the artist’s most advanced to appear in his commercial graphic work. No library holdings found by worldcat.

Tartu: Kiri ja Kunst, 1927 Octavo, wrappers, 164pp. „The Red Lily,“ a novel by Jaan Pert (1899-1953). Pert was a novelist, playwright, journalist and art critic. This is his first published novel. Pert relocated to Sweden in 1944. where he continued writing and promoting Estonian art. Unattributed abstract cover design, suggesting the hand of Peet Aren. No library copies found in worldcat

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1924 Octavo, wrappers, 231pp. Unattributed, notable cover design. „Purple Death,“ is a novel by August Gailit (1891-1960), novelist and journalist who covered the political dynamics that played out in interwar Estonia and abroad. He fled Estonia to Sweden in 1944. No copies of this first edition found by worldcat.

Tartu: Kirjastus Sonavara, 1928 Octavo, wrappers, 96pp. “Whistle of the Wanderer,” a collection of poems by Kärner (1891-1958), espousing nature poet, novelist, editor. A good deal of his poetry was set to music by contemporary composers. A Marxist, he emigrated to the USSR with the German occupation and returned with the Russian one in 1944. Shortly thereafter he descended into madness. Cover design by Jaan Vahtra. No copies found in North American libraries.

Tartu: Loodus, 1928 Large octavo, wrappers, 184(2)pp. „Peace of Mind,“ is the debut novel by Krusten (1897-1987). The author would achieve fame in his postwar fiction in exile, winning the Visnapuu Award for Literature in 1958. The book has a brilliant cover design by Jaan Vahtra. No library copies found in worldcat

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1928 Octavo, wrappers, 360pp. “Race-War” is a memoir depicting the relentlessness of destruction and death, from the author’s experience on the ground. Striking cover design by Peet Aren. Rare, no copies found in North American libraries.

Tallinn: Autorikaitse Ühingu Kirjastus, 1937 Large octavo, wrappers, 80pp. Cover design by F. Randelit. “The word journey,” a collection of poems. Worldcat finds no library holdings.

Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 1920 Large octavo, wrappers, 170pp. Oskar Luts (1887-1953) was a writer and playwright, whose works have been translated in many languages. The present work SOO (Swamp) comes from after the success of his earlier, optimistic work dating before WWI. Cover design by August Roosileht. No library holdings in North America.

Tallinn: Varraku, 1919 Octavo 18x13 cm, wrappers, 160pp. Cover design by Abo Vabbe. An Estonian translation of Schnitzler’s novelette STERBEN. Transitional abstract cover design by Ado Vabbe. One North American library holding found.

Tartu: noo, 1920 Octavo, wrappers, 145pp. Novelist, playwright and politician August Mälk (1900-1987) authored the present work, „The Living Dead,“ is an eary work preceding the fame he would achieve in the trilogy Õitsev meri in 1935. He fled to Sweden in 1944 and served as the chariman of the Estonian Writers Union Abroad from 1945 to 1982. His work has been translated into German and Finnish. Cover design by Peet Aren. One library holding in North America.

Tallinn: Päevaleht, 1929 Quarto 22x29 cm., wrappers bound in cloth, Nos. 1-4/5 (all published). Cover design by Gunther Reindorff. One of the most important interwar art journals, Taie continued to introduce the latest art experiments in Estonia as well as the more traditional work to Estonian readers. It was truly international in scope, with a broader outreach than previous journals which emphasized Estonian work almost exclusively. It also explored traditional Estonian crafts and folk art and visual heritage as well as Western European art history. Many of the artists contributed essays and statements in addition to presenting their work. There is a very fine survey of the Latvian avant-garde and modernism; Western Europe primarily is represented by France, both traditional and contemporary. Estonian contemporary architecture is also featured along with building developments in Finland. The journal is well illustrated. Especially interesting as a document of the continuing Estonian… Read More