Courses in Color Printing and the Arts of the Book
New York: Teachers College, Columbia University, circa 1912. Side-stitched volume, measuring 6.5 x 3.5 inches: [8]. Original vellum paper wrappers titled in black. Printed in black, light blue, and taupe; seven linocuts in text. Lightest spotting to wrappers.
Booklet designed by Czech artist Vojtech Preissig to promote his fine arts course in color printing at Columbia University’s Teachers College: “Throughout the modern art-world the cry is color . . . In the Book Exposition at Leipzig last year, the color work distanced everything else. Color printing sets the artist free.” Printed in an early version of his Preissig Roman font, the course guide features linocut examples of class projects, including a title page, poster design, and stamp, to be printed in color using “all the media of the Arts of the Book.” A major figure in Czech modernism, Preissig left Prague in 1910, shortly after publishing his landmark magazine Ceska grafika (Czech Graphics) and book Barevný lept a barevná rytina (Color Etchings and Color Engravings). He taught at Teachers College for two years before moving to Boston, where he directed the School of Printing and Graphic Art at the Wentworth Institute. Preissig returned to Czechoslovakia in 1930. He joined the Czech resistance and worked on the underground magazine V Boj (Into the Night), sending a copy of every issue to the Gestapo in defiance. Arrested by the Nazis, Preissig died in Dachau in 1944. A scarce survival, very nearly fine.
Price: $500.00