Deutsche Einbandkunst, 1921

Ernst Collin edited and published Deutsche Einbandkunst, the catalog for the Jakob Krauße Bund's (J-K-B) exhibition that was held in the Weißer Saal of Berlin’s Schloßmuseum September-October 1921. The catalog featured essays by Ernst (2), Paul Kersten (2), G.A.E. Bogeng, and others. Ernst’s essays were “Wer ist ein Bücherfreund” (“Who is a Bibliophile”) and the uncredited “Über Bucheinbände” (“About Bookbindings”) describing the various structures hand bookbinders applied and what viewers would encounter in the exhibit. Other essays provide context to the J-K-B of which Kersten was director and other aspects of the exhibit such as bindings by Jakob Krauße drawn from various libraries. Displayed bindings are minimally described in the checklist that is divided into several parts: Deceased members Georg Collin (12), Eduard Ludwig (15), Fritz Nitsch (1) and active members including Otto Dorfer (24), Paul Kersten (42), Otto Pfaff (14), and Hugo Wagner (12). In total, there were several hundred bindings and other works. The catalog also contains forty pages of advertisements for antiquarians and booksellers, binderies, printers, and purveyors to the trade. Ernst wrote several articles about this exhibition in other publications for the book trades and general public.

The catalog was produced in two versions, a deluxe of twenty unbound copies on handmade wove rag (IXX), with the remaining copies (21-2,000) on a machine-made wove rag paper. My copy of the deluxe edition (Nr. XX) was bound in an unsigned ¼ leather binding with cloth sides and gilt top edge. 

Of interest is that the decorated wrappers for the regular edition were made by ten different decorated paper makers. Below some examples

The pastepaper example illustrated above from my collection (Nr. 1887)
was made by Xaver Wittmann, Abt. B.B.K., Konstanz a. R[hein]
who provided 200 pieces.

I was recently able to acquire two more copies of the catalog with different decorated papers for the wrappers.

Copy #1939, paper also made by Xaver Wittmann,
Abt. B.B.K., Konstanz a. B[odensee].

Advertisement for Xaver Wittman from the catalog.
They also sold "hand painted" book cloth, in addition to decorated
papers for covering and endpapers.

Copy # 375, paper made by Beyer-Preußer & Glasemann,
Niedernhausen im Taunus.

.

Advertisement for Beyer-Preußer & Glasemann from the catalog

"Quality decorated papers of all kinds for covering and endpapers
using our own proprietary techniques."

Colophon with all the papers and their makers.

Below, all advertisers in the catalog. In addition to some of the exhibitors, the advertisers included booksellers, publishers, hand- and large trade binderies, and suppliers of all sorts. Download from here.

Dark Archives – Anthropodermic Bibliopegy

 Megan Rosenbloom's Dark Archives is out! Read the review from the New York Times and elsewhere. Dark Archives is a wonderfully conversational dive into this subfield of bibliopegy. It also connects to topics here because of articles on the subject by Ernst Collin and Paul Kersten, the latter also the focus of part of one of the chapters.

Should Fritz Otto be worried? First fish, now this.
The Meister knows about Paul Kersten and others, also Pergamena... 
Time to .

To learn more, listen to this great conversation. There are others online as well. Just check out #DarkArchives on Twitter.

Anthropodermic Biocodicology (HUMAN LEATHER BOOKS) with Megan Rosenbloom & Daniel Kirby 
Listen on Ologies with Alie Ward

Anthropodermic bibliopegy is a long, fancy way of saying “HUMAN SKIN BOOKS” and the study of confirming or debunking them is … Anthropodermic Biocodicology. For this skin-crawling, history-trawling Spooktober episode, we chat with the absolutely wonderful and charming medical librarian and expert of books bound in human skin, Megan Rosenbloom. Also, on the line: analytical chemist Dr. Daniel Kirby, who discusses how books are tested to confirm if they are, in fact, human leather. Why would someone make these? What’s in between the covers? Whose skin is it? What do they smell like? And what can they tell us about our culture and our past? Rosenbloom has just released her book “Dark Archives” and gives us a peek into the world she’s come to know so well. Listen under a blanket or with a nightlight on, though. It’ll give you goosebumps.

New Colliniana Acquisitions

I recently acquired several new items connected to the Collins.

First is a publishers' binding, Georg Friedrich Händel by Fritz Volbach, part of a larger series about Berühmte Musiker (Famous Musicians and Composers). The book was published in 1898 and represents the kind of work that W. Collin did as a large trade bindery. On the back W. Collin's stamp in a variant I had not seen until now. You can see other examples here and the Pan after Clavigo here.

Georg Friedrich Händel by Fritz Volbach.

Detail of the stamp.

The other is a book about the artist Adolf v. Menzel bound by W. Collin after 1906. The cover design is in leather relief, and I suspect the binding was created after 1918, and the death of Georg Collin on 24 December of that year,  as the signature in gold on the front turn-in does not include Hofbuchbinder. The monarchy had ended with the end of World War I, so there were no more Court bookbinders.

[Edit: Found the binding depicted in G.A.E. Bogeng's Deutsche Einbandkunst im ersten Jahrzehnt des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts, [1911]. See here for more.]

Adolf v. Menzel bound by W. Collin after 1906

Signed W. Collin, Berlin.

Then from the father to the son, the complete run of Die Heftlade edited by Ernst Collin, printed on rag paper, #15/400, and as published 1922-24 in individual issues. I have had a complete run with all inserts for some time, but it is nice to have them as issued.

The complete Die Heftlade.

In with the Heftlade was also a catalog for the Euphorion Verlag that published the Heftlade, and Ernst Collin's Pressbengel. You can find the Pressbengel on page 2, and the Heflade on the last.

Finally, I was offered a copy of a "Sonderdruck" (special printing) of the Heftlade from 1925 about Jean Grolier. It's printed by the same firm that printed the full run, but I'm finding it hard to place as there is no editorial information... Another mystery.

The Cover.

Imprint.

Detail of Imprint.

 

Colliniana 2019-20 - Ernst Collin Updates

As in the past 6 years, on May 31st, Ernst Collin's birthday (This would have been his 134th) I share updates from my research and findings into his life and work. Unfortunately, there seemed to be little new to share about the Collins in 2019 and other things intervened... However, thanks to another mass digitization project and some new acquisitions there are several interesting things to share this year. My text is all English this time to describe findings and images, but all text in images auf Deutsch, naturally.

The most significant of these was the digitization of the Börsenblatt des deutschen Buchhandels (daily newsletter of the German book trades). The collection was digitized by the Sächsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (SLUB) in Dresden and features full text indexing and searching. While OCR is challenging at best with variances in paper, type quality, typefaces, I was able to identify a number of articles relating to Ernst Collin. Thank you to all those organizations and individuals who work to expose the literature in this way. I am also grateful that works are passing into the public domain again, in the US, so that volumes for 1923/24 becaume accessible. So, each year will bring new discoveries.

Corvinus Antiquariat Ernst Collin

Mommsen Straße 27 in Charlottenburg where the
Corvinus Antiquariat was located when it opened

Addressbuch entry from 1925

Ernst Collin opened his Corvinus Antiquariat in Charlottenburg on October 15, 1923, during some of the worst of the hyperinflation period... Images below are from the Börsenblatt. The opening and range of inventory was also covered in the Archiv für Buchbinderei, nr 10/11, vol 23, 1923.

Announcement of the Antiquariat being added to the Berlin directory

Announcement also indicating monthly exhibits of bibliophile
books and contemporary prints and drawings.
from same issue of the Börsenblatt, October 15, 1923.

A mention in the issue of December 28, 1923 concerned the publication of his first catalog containing fine press books, fine bindings, and other bibliophilic texts. The introduction to the catalog was written by E.A.G. Bogeng, a prolific writer and scholar of the book and allied crafts, and also provided some vital details about Ernst's life. The opening coincided with Germany's period of hyperinflation.

Here an advertisement for an exhibition at the Antiquariat in February of 1924.

From die Weltbühne, 1924.

From April 27 to May 24, 1924 the Antiquariat hosted an exhibit of works by Walter Klemm's and Alexander Olbricht's Weimar Reiher-Verlag, illustrated books bound by Otto Dorfner, as well as other bindings by him. Also exhibited were paintings and woodcuts by Arthur Segal. This opening was also covered in the Archiv für Buchbinderei, nr 4, vol 24, 1924.

Announcement of the exhibition at the Corvinus Antiquariat

On December 5, 1924, the Börsenblatt carried a notice that the Antiquariat was moving from Charlottenburg to Stegliz, the address Ernst also used as editor of Die Heftlade, Journal of the Jakob-Krause-Bund (J-K-B), an association of fine binders, and for his publication of Paul Kersten in 1925...

Notice of the Antiquariat's move

Finally, on March 17, 1927, the Börsenblatt announced the closure of the Antiquariat, 3ish years after its opening during the period of hyperinflation.

Closure notice

Writings and Speaking

The Boersenblatt also contained reports of Collin speaking publicly as well as containing several articles by him or referencing those in other publications. In the May 8, 1918 edition he wrote about bibliophiles and the art of binding in "Bücherfreunde und Einbandkunst," on April 25, 1923 he stepped in for Fedor von Zobeltitz to give the welcoming talk at the opening of Der Schöne Bucheinband, an exhibit of the J-K-B. This talk was also covered in the Archiv für Buchbinderei. and on June 27, 1931 reviewed the "internation book art exhibition" held in Paris that year. He did not go into the details of the German exhibitors to avoid the internal politics of that group... Some of these appeared in the "editorial" section of the Börsenblatt. There was also a back-and-forth exchange with a publisher in response to an article of his in the Tägliche Rundschau, another daily in which the publisher saw Collin's opinions on pricing as being unfair. It also mentioned an article in the Deutsche Verleger of December 1, 1920 about the "cleansing" of foreign terms in the German book trades, "Fremdworterreinigung im deutschen Buchgewerbe." This topic also appeared in various bookbinding trade publications in the years between the World Wars.

The publication of the Pressbengel was also mentioned and the topic of some discussion in the Börsenblatt's October 30, 1922 edition. The announcement mentioned that it has taken a long time for fine bindings and books to receive the kind of recognition they deserve, and that despite the hard economic times, fine books still find willing buyers. It then goes on to describe the nature of the discussion between bibliophile and binder, other titles by Collin, and that like the Heftlade (sewing frame) the Pressbengel (more here) is another essential tool of the bookbinder. Zobeltitz had reviewed the book for Die Heftlade (Nr 4, 1922), published by Collin for the J-K-B. The bookbinding, bibliophile, and arts communities were very interwoven... 

Notice about the Pressbengel. Note the price, an indicator
of the beginnings of the hyperinflation
that would get much worse in 1923.

The December 21, 1922 edition mentioned the Pressbengel at the end of it's Christmas title list, that even if a book lover can't afford new clothes for their favorite books, that can at least read about it, amusingly in the Pressbengel, closing with an acknowledgment of the increasingly bad economic situation and growing hyperinflation.

"If only there weren't that valuta (currency) hyperinflation"

I wrote about some of this in the 2018 post about Ernst Collin und Euphorion Verlag Inserate | Ads.

Below a tweet from the Director of the Sächsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (SLUB) that shows the levels of hyperinflation and the reaction of one publisher...

"We believe in the future. We are not closing down, we are increasing our production." The legendary #Malik publishing house during the hyperinflation of 1923 - 97 years ago. The currency decline is shown in the chart from https://t.co/mHmqWGp8gX. Situation today? pic.twitter.com/IBHYXWWVLl

— Achim Bonte (@slubbon) May 16, 2020

Ernst Collin in the Allgemeiner Anzeiger für Buchbindereien

I was also able to acquire an "imperfect"copy of the 1929 Allgmeiner Anzeiger für Buchbindereien (AAB), imperfect in the sense that for one or two issues, 1928  had been bound in instead of 1929. Those apprentices...

This issue contained several articles by Collin, including "Neue Arbeiten der Weimarer Fachschule" led by Otto Dorfner; two articles about bookbinding supplies and decorated papers being shown at the Leipziger Papiermesse (trade fair); "Ein halbes Jahrhundert Fachmann" about Paul Kersten's 50th year practicing and teaching in the trade; and directly connected to items in my collection, a review of Musterbetriebe deutscher Wirtschaft (Model Corporations of German Industry) that was about the trade bindery E.A. Enders. I described that book in my post here, especially pleased that it depicted my copy of the 1927 Jahrbuch der Einbandkunst published by the Meister der Einbandkunst. There was also an article about "Buchbinder in der Literatur," bookbinders appearing in literary works; a review "Bucheinband-Ausstellung in Berlin" about a bindings created by Kersten's students at the Lette Verein (and addition to the previously mentioned article).  Also several other exhibit reviews, and a correction by Collin for omitting the binder Carl Funke from his article about the 25th anniversary of the Berliner Kunstklasse, first led by Kersten. Among those 1928 articles was one "Über die Kunst in der Buchbinderei" about the art in [fine] binding. Those articles will be added to the bibliography of Collins writings soon.

As an added bonus, it also contained several of the issues of  number 1 of the 1929 volume of the Buchbinderlehrling, below nr. 1. This was the journal for apprentices and was included as an insert in the AAB.

Number 1 of the 1929 Buchbinderlehrling as issued in the
Allegemeiner Anzeiger für Buchbindereien.

Connecting Ernst Collin to other threads

I also found an article by Collin about the "Zukunft unserer Kriegsbeschädigten" (Future of Those Disabled by the War) from the Hamburgische Lazarett-Zeitung, Nr 14, 1  Juli, 1916. While not focused on bookbinding, it ties into articles by Paul Adam and others, and shows again the breadth of Collins writings.

I was also pleased to include writings by Collin in my article "Fips" and His Eels: Fish Skin in Bookbinding that appeared in Book Arts arts du livre Canada (Vol 10., Nr. 2, 2019). Another article on this topic will appear in The  New Bookbinder, and I am also working on a German version. Finally, really, I was asked to write a general, foundational, article on Collin and his Pressbengel for a German publication.

I think this wraps up the past two years. 

Buchbinder-Fachschule Berlin

Ernst Collin (5.31.1886-12.1942), the grandson of Wilhelm and son of Georg, followed in the family tradition and learned the trade of bookbinder initially. However, where he apprenticed and worked during his journeyman years is not known. Likewise, nothing is known about his childhood or personal life beyond what he wrote about his grandfather and father.

What little we do know comes from Ernst’s writings, where he described studying for a semester under Paul Kersten in the first class of the Kunstklasse of the Berliner Buchbinderfachschule für Kunstbuchbinderei directed by Gustav Slaby in 1904.¹ The Kunstklasse (Art class) at the Fachschule Ernst Collin mentioned himself studying with Paul Kersten and others at in “Ein viertel Jahrhundert kunstbuchbinderischer Erziehung - 25 Jahre Berliner Kunstklasse“ (Archiv für Buchbinderei, Vol. 29, Nr. 9, 1929. (106-108)), was not mentioned at all in my new acquisition, nor was Kersten mentioned in the list of faculty. Re-reading Collins article about a quarter century of the Kunstklasse I learned that it had been a part of the Guild's Fachschule, but that split apart after 19 years in 1923. The Kunstklasse then moved to an arts & crafts school in Charlottenburg in the western part of Berlin. According to Collin, the split happened due to differences in pedagogy and philosophy, the Kunstklasse being there to teach students to be free from creative constraints, whereas the Guild's more rigid approach was geared to the trade. Those differences were also apparent when I visited the Berufsschule (trade school) during my apprenticeship.

However, as G.A.E. Bogeng wrote in his introduction to Collin’s antiquarian catalog, Collin worked as a bookbinder for many years in Germany and England.² Ultimately, Ernst chose to follow a different path: antiquarian and writer.

Über Ernst Collin (31.5.1886-[12.1942]) selbst ist sehr wenig bekannt, obwohl er in einer kleinen Anzahl von Aufsätzen Details über seinen Werdegang erwähnt hat. Aus diesen wissen wir, dass er das Buchbinderhandwerk erlernt hat, doch nicht, ob und wo er eine Lehre absolviert hat. Ebensowenig ist bekannt, wie er zum Schreiben gefunden hat.

Als Buchbinder erwähnt wurde Collin in seinem Aufsatz „Ein viertel Jahrhundert kunstbuchbinder-ischer Erziehung - 25 Jahre Berliner Kunstklasse“ wo er schrieb, daß er 1904 ein Semester lang bei Paul Kersten studiert hat, in der ersten [Kunst]Klasse dieser Schule überhaupt.¹ Letzen Endes schlug Collin aber eine andere Laufbahn ein, die des Antiquars und Schriftstellers.

Advertisement for the Buchbinder-Fachschule, 1921.
From L. Brades illustriertes Buchbinderbuch, edited and reworked by Paul Kersten, 1921.

---

1. Collin, Ernst. “Ein viertel Jahrhundert kunstbuchbinderischer Erziehung - 25 Jahre Berliner Kunstklasse.“ Archiv für Buchbinderei, Vol. 29, Nr. 9, 1929. (106-108)  
2. Bücher für den Bibliophilen. Corvinus-Antiquariat Ernst Collin GMBH. [1923]

The Bone Folder as Bound by Marc Hammond

Congratulations Marc! Absolutely beautiful and honored by the binding.

The Bone Folder was written by Ernst Collin as Der Pressbengel, translated by me, and printed by Don Rash's Boss Dog Press with photos by John (Hans) Schiff. Order information at left. Unbound sheets are sold out.

Below the post on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw2oyDJgbgg/:

View this post on Instagram

The 1st Place winner in the "Bound Together" bookbinding exhibit is a binding of “The Bone Folder" by #NBSSalumni Marc Hammonds BB ’17 @marc.hammo. . Marc says, “Much of the subject of The Bone Folder relates to traditional bookbinding techniques. My inspiration stems from the raised sewing supports and endband cores used in historic bookbinding to attach the boards. In my design, they are illustrated by leather onlays and dots tooled with gold leaf. The goal I had in mind was to craft a very contemporary binding with a design which would allude to traditional techniques.” . “The Bone Folder” was written by Ernst Collins as Der Pressbengel, translated by Peter D. Verheyen @pdverheyen, and printed by Boss Dog Press. . See photos of Marc's book process here, including the titling on the spine. This is a full leather binding with onlays, dots tooled with gold leaf, and Diane Bond paste paper endpapers. . Come see the book in "Bound Together," open until tomorrow. it will also be in the 20th Annual Celebration of Craft: Student & Alumni Exhibit, opening May 1, 2019. More info: nbss.edu/acc2019 . #boundtogether #boundtogetherbooks #bookbinding #bookbindingtools #bookbinder #bookbinders #bonefolder #thebonefolder #bookbindersdesign #bookart #finebinding #bookbindingexhibition #acc2019 #bookstagram #books

A post shared by North Bennet Street School (@nbssboston) on Apr 29, 2019 at 1:58pm PDT

Ernst Collin über/about E.A. Enders, Leipzig - München

Ich liebe es wenn verschiedene Themen hier zusammen kommen wie in dem Beitrag in dem Ernst Collin über die "Zukunft unserer Kriegsbeschädigten" schrieb. In diesem Fall, eine Rezension geschrieben als "ec." über Musterbetriebe deutscher Wirtschaft: Die Großbuchbinderei E.A. Enders, Leipzig auf Seite 658 vom Allgemeiner Anzeiger für Buchbindereien. (Bd. 44, Nr. 28, 1929).

I love it when different threads come together such as with a previous post in which Ernst Collin wrote about rehabilitation for wounded veterans. In this case, finding a review of Musterbetriebe deutscher Wirtschaft: Die Großbuchbinderei E.A. Enders, Leipzig written as "ec." on page 658 of the Allgemeiner Anzeiger für Buchbindereien. (Vol. 44, Nr. 28, 1929).

Über die Sonderabteilung für Handeinbände schrieb Ernst Collin, "Wie die Mehrzahl der führenden Leipziger Großbuchbindereien, so verfügt auch die Firma E.A. Enders über eine Sonderabteilung für Handeinbände. Mit dieser Abteilung wird die handwerkliche Tradition des Unternehmens gewahrt. Abbildungen von Handeinbänden zumeist nach Entwürfen von H. Hußmann sind den Darlegungen über die Enderssche Werkstätte beigegeben: Eine moderne Stilsprache, die aus traditioneller Vornehmheit wichtige Anregungen geschöpft hat, ist das Kennzeichen dieser Einbände..."

About the extra-binding department, Ernst Collin wrote that like most of the large trade binderies in Leipzig, E.A. Enders also had such a department. These departments preserved the handbinding roots of what had become very large binderies. Depicted bindings in the book were largely designed by H. Hußman and represent the Enders aesthetic of a modern style that draws on traditional noblesse is the hallmark of their bindings.

Über die Sonderabteilung
About the extra-binding department

Einband von Musterbetriebe deutscher Wirtschaft
Cover of Musterbetriebe deutscher Wirtschaft

Beispiel der Arbeiten der Sonder-Abteilung
An example of the work of the Extra-Binding department

Colliniana 2018 - Ernst Collin Updates

Wie in den 6 vergangenen Jahren gebe ich am 31. Mai zum Geburtstag von Ernst Collin (dies wäre sein 132. gewesen) eine Zusammenfassung von Funden und Fortschritten an meinem Projekt über die Collins.

As in the past 6 years, on May 31st, Ernst Collin's birthday (This would have been his 132th) I share updates from my research and findings into his life and work.

---

Jetzt sind es schon 5 Jahre her seit dieser Blog auf seiner eignen Art lebhaft wurde . Das habe ich Ruth zu verdanken die mich zu Ihrer möglichen Verwandtschaft mit Ernst Collin befragt hat. Dazu kamen meine andauernden offenen Fragen zur Herkunft die in der Einleitung zu ersten Fassung meiner Pressbengel Übersetzung angedeutet wurden. Zusammen genommen  mehr als genug Ansporn auf teils obsessiver Weise weiter zu machen. Neues wurde regelmässig auf Facebook unter #Colliniana und #PressbengelProjectBlog geteilt, sowie bei Twitter.

It's been 5 years since this blog "took off" in its own special way. For that we largely have Ruth to thank whose questions about possibly being related to Ernst Collin. Add to that my own nagging open questions from the introduction to the first edition of my translation of his Pressbengel as The Bone Folder. Together these ignited an obsessive flame that still burns. Updates have been shared regularly via Facebook under #Colliniana and #PressbengelProjectBlog, as well as on Twitter.

Die Boss Dog Press Ausgabe als Pressendruck ist endlich erschienen und all Vorbestellungen sind verschickt wurden. Das ich erfreut bin ist eine riesige Untertreibung, und daß die Auflage von Don Rash und seiner Boss Dog Presse geschaffen wurde, besonders mit den Photographien von John Hans Schiff, eine riesige Ehre. Es wa eine weiter Weg, aber wie beim guten Wein hat sich das Warten sehr gelohnt.  Bis jetzt hat das Buch ein Heim in den Bibliotheken von Azuza Pacific University, Cambridge University, dem Grolier Club und Yale University gefunden, sowie der Deutsche Nationalbibliothek und dem Leo Baeck Institute. Für mehr Infos und zu bestellen bitte die Boss Dog Press besuchen oder links klicken.

The Boss Dog Press edition is out and all preorders have shipped. To say I am pleased is a massive understatement, and having Don Rash and the Boss Dog Press create this edition, especially with the photographs of John (Hans) Schiff was a great honor. It's been a long road, but the wait (like with a good wine) very much worth it.  So far, the book has found homes at Azuza Pacific University, Cambridge University, the Grolier Club, and Yale University, in addition to the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek and Leo Baeck Institute. For more information and to order, see the Boss Dog Press site or click the link at left.

Deluxe edition (left) and regular edition (right).
Both come with a matching slipcase | Beide mit passenden Schuber geliefert

Titel mit Facsimile der 1922er Erstausgabe
Title page spread with facsimile of original 1922 edition

I hatte auch die Freude 2 Exemplare dieser Ausgabe zwecks Ausstellungen zu binden und bin mit den Ergebnissen ganz zufrieden. Eines ist unten zu sehen, mit mehr unter diesem Link, inkl. denen in  Lagen zum Downloaden und Binden. Letzere sind schon mehr als 1500 mal heruntergeladen seit ich sie so geteilt habe.

It was also my pleasure to bind two copies, ostensibly for exhibitions. I'm rather pleased by how they turned out. One is below, and you can see more here, including test bindings on the downloadable edition for binding. The latter has been accessed over 1500 times since first appearing online.

Quarter salmon parchment binding with pastepaper sides (both made by the binder); endpapers of Cave Paper “Alphabet”; graphite top edge; sewn endbands. Décor on boards from images in the text by John (Hans) Schiff with title stamped in gold. Also bound in are an extra set of enlarged photographs and the prospectus. 30.5 x 23.5 x 3 cm. Bound 2017.

Mehr Schriften von Ernst Collin | More writings by Ernst Collin
Die Bibliographie von Ernst Collins Shriften begann mit 60, wuchs zu 275 als ich meine erste Bibliographie teilte und steht jetzt mit 355 da. Der Großteil der neuen stammt aus der Berliner Volkszeitung wo Ernst in der Redaktion und als Kunstkritiker tätig war. Die Aufsätze wurden über die voll-text Suchen bei  Europeana Newspapers und ZEFYS gefunden. Da die OCR mit den Schrifttypen der Zeit oft Probleme hat bin ich mir sicher, daß noch mehr zu finden ist. Ich fand auch einen Zitat zu einem zweisprachigen Aufsatz über die Graphik in der pharma werbe Branche. Das der Aufsatz zweisprachig war, war eine Überraschung. Ich fand auch einige andere Aufsätze in mir noch nicht bekannten Zeitschriften.

The bibliography of titles that started with some 60, grew to 275 when I shared the bibliography, now stands at 355. The bulk of those new additions are from the Berliner Volkszeitung, where Ernst was an editor and art critic. The articles were found using a full-text search at Europeana Newspapers and ZEFYS. Based on the overall quality of the OCR of text from that period, I'm sure there are more within the pages. Also found via a citation in a dissertation was a bi-lingual (Deutsch/English) article on graphic design in pharmaceutical advertising. The bi-lingual nature was a surprise to me. There were also other articles in unknown-to-me publications.

Die Heftlade und ein Exlibris
Ich konnte mir auch ein zusätzliches Exemplar der Heftlade zulegen, eine Zeitschrift die Ernst Collin 1922-24 für den Jakob-Krause-Bund herausgab. Der Hauptgrund für dieses zusätzliche Exemplar war, daß es alle Beilagen UND die letzten zwei Hefte von 1924 mitgebunden hatte. Die Heftlade erschien nicht 1923.Unter den Beilagen war auch eine zu dem Aufsatz über das Sammeln von Exlibris, eine großes Sammelgebiet einst und und für manche noch jetzt. Die Heftlade hatte eine Auflage von 400 Exemplaren, und es war gut möglich, daß es verschiedene Beilagen zu den einzelnen Aufsätzen gab. In meinem Exemplar war ein Exlibris von Walter Kampmann für... Ernst Collin datiert Dezember 1920.

The Heftlade & an exlibris 
 I also acquired an additional copy of Die Heftlade, the "modest" bookbinding journal published 1922-24 by Ernst Collin for the Jakob-Krause-Bund. Reason for trading-up was that this copy had all inserts and the remaining two issues from 1924. The Heftlade did not appear in 1923. Among the inserts  was one to accompany an article on collecting exlibris/bookplates by Ernst. Collecting these was big, still is to some today. The Heftlade was printed in a run of 400, and may have had several different pasted on samples spread across the edition. Well in my copy there was an exlibris by Walter Kampmann for none other than... Ernst Collin. The exlibris was created in December of 1920.

Mehr Exlibris von Kampmann gibt es hier zu sehen. Ich habe auch ein reizvolles Exlibris von Ernst Heigenmoser, daß ich 2013 hier teilte. Seit ich das Exlibris für Ernst fand habe ich es oft mit dem Kopf des Herren (rechts) verglichen aus Collins Aufsatz "Bucheinbände aus Fischhaut" (1934).

More exlibris by Kampmann can be seen here. I also have a charming post-war exlibris by Ernst Heigenmoser that I shared here in 2013. Since I received the exlibris for Ernst, I've been comparing the head in that wonderful print to the back of the head of the "man in black" at top left in Ernst's article (1934) on making leather from fish.

Ernst Collin rechts? | Ernst Collin at right?

Angeregt von Ernst und Anderen, habe ich sogar selbst Pergament aus Fisch gemacht.

Encouraged by Ernst and others, I even made my own parchment from fish.

Stolpersteine
Ich sah, daß der 20. März Stolperstein Putztag in Deutschland war, der Tag an dem Menschen versuchen die vielen kleinen individuelle Mahnmale an die von den Nationalsozialisten ermordeten und verfolgten zu reinigen. Als ich den Aufruf auf Twitter sah äußerte ich die Hoffnung, daß vielleicht einer die für Ernst und Else Collin reinigen könnte. Ich bin dieser Person sehr dankbar. Obwohl meine Tochter sie im letzten Sommer versuchte zu reinigen entwickelte sich wieder eine starke Patina. Es ist sehr schön beide wieder in altem Glanz zu sehen. Danke.

I saw that March 20 was the big spring Stolperstein cleaning day in Germany, when people make a concerted effort to try to clean the many Stolpersteine for those murdered, or otherwise persecuted by the Nazis. When I saw the notice on Twitter, I asked that if someone happened to come down past Cicerostr 61 in Berlin, could they please clean the stones for Ernst and Else Collin, too. I am very grateful to a kind person for doing this. Even though my daughter had cleaned them last summer they had developed a strong patina again. Nice to see them (and all the stones) shine. Thank you.

Here they are before and after cleaning today: pic.twitter.com/QTgau9i8c0

— Jane Yager (@Jane_Yager) March 20, 2018

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W. Collin
Im letzten Jahr konnte ich auch einiges zu W. Collin finden, besonders die Stelleninserate in der Berliner Volkszeitung. Dabei waren viele in denen Mädchen und Frauen gesucht wurden um bei der allgemein und bei der Kriegsproduktion zu arbeiten.

I was also able to find some great materials about W. Collin that give a sense of the kind of work they hired for while looking in the Berliner Volkszeitung. Among them were ads directed at women seeking labor for war production, as well as other general positions.

Ich konnte auch einige Exemplare der Arbeiten von W. Collin erwerben. Unter denen ein Pergament Einband an Goethe's Clavigo und eine kleine Mappe mit interessanten Eigenschaften.

I also acquired two more W. Collin exemplars, one a full vellum binding on Goethe's Clavigo and the other a small portfolio that has some interesting properties.

Clavigo

Kleine Mappe | Small portfolio

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Und so kommt zu meiner Sammlung mit einem echten Pressbengel...

And so, to my collection of a genuine pressbengel, ...

dieses schöne Gemälde von einem Falzbein (Bone Folder) von Don Rash.
(Gemalt ist es auf eine der Pappen die seine Werksbank beschützt haben. Werkstoffe als Metapher...)

I now add this wonderful painting by Don Rash of a bonefolder.
(It is painted on a used piece of binders board that once protected the tops of his benches. Material as metaphor...)

Danke Don! | Thank you Don!

Ernst Collin und Euphorion Verlag Inserate | Ads

Auch in meinem neuen Exemplar der Heftlade, Inserate für Collins Corvinus-Antiquariat und vom dem Euphorion Verlag für den Pressbengel. Interessant zu sehen das Bücher über Freimaurerei gesucht wurden. War Collin auch Freimaurer? Siehe auch den Inserat aus dem Katalog zur Ausstellung handwerklicher Einbandkunst im Museum des Güstrower Kunst- und Altertumsvereins: 21. Sept. bis 15. Okt. 1924, halbwegs unten hier. Hier zur Mommsenstraße 27 bei Google Maps.

My new copy of the Heftlade also had ads bound in at the back. Among them, for Ernst Collin's Corvinus-Antiquariat and for the Euphorion Verlag that published the Pressbengel. It was interesting to see that Collin was also seeking books on Free Masonry. Was he also a Mason? See also another add for his Antiquariat in the catalog for the Ausstellung handwerklicher Einbandkunst im Museum des Güstrower Kunst- und Altertumsvereins: 21. Sept. bis 15. Okt. 1924, halfway down the page here. Here's a view of Mommsenstraße 27 via Google Maps

Books for the Bibliophile
We have: first editions, rare books, letterpress and luxury editions,
and books in beautiful bindings

Wanted are books by/about the following including free-masonery,
first editions...

Der Euphorion Verlag in dem der Collins Pressbengel erschien hatte zwei Inserate auf dieser Seite. Der untere ist interessant weil der Pressbengel als Band V in einer Serie von "Essays zur Pflege und Erneuerung Moderne Buchkunst" erscheint. In dem Pressbengel selbst sind zu dieser Serie keine Hinweise zu finden... Auch interessant ist das die 30 Exemplare der Luxus-Ausgabe in Leder oder Pergament erworben konnten. Ob dieser aus der Sammlung Max Hettler einer davon ist? Dort steht, daß der Einband von Hübel und Denck ist – Collin schrieb mehrer Aufsätze für deren Festschrift Fünfzig Jahre deutscher Verlegereinband, Festschrift Hübel u. Denck, Leipzig, 1875 - 1925 und den Monatsblätter für Bucheinbände und Handbindekunst.

The Euphorion Verlag, publisher of Collin's Pressbengel translated by me as The Bone Folder, had two ads on this page. The top indicated that it was looking to buy back all out-of-print titles it published and asking for offers (and prices). At bottom, an ad for the Pressbengel, indicating it as vol 5 in a series of essays on the topic of the care and handling of modern book art. There is also a description of the deluxe edition of 30 copies that could be ordered in either full-leather or parchment. Could this one from the Max Hettler collection be one of these? There, it is stated that the binding was by Hübel und Denck – Collin wrote numerous articles for their Festschrift Fünfzig Jahre deutscher Verlegereinband, Festschrift Hübel u. Denck, Leipzig, 1875 - 1925 and the monthly Monatsblätter für Bucheinbände und Handbindekunst.

Unten die Preisangaben für den Pressbengel. Leder oder Pergament für Mark 85, Pappband für Mark 4,50. Dies war während der Inflationszeit, also war Rechnen angesagt da man mit Notgeld zahlte (siehe unten). Eine Webseite die historische Währungen umrechnet kalkulierte, daß 85 Mark (1922) einen Kaufwert von $3931.93 heutigen Dollar haben könnten, 4.50 Mark den von $208.16. Ob das stimmt?

Below the pricing for the Pressbengel, leather or parchment for 85 Marks, paper for 4.50 Marks. This was during the period of hyper-inflation so need to do some real math as hyperinflation currency was printed at ever greater denominations (see below). A website that converts historical currency values calculated that 85 Mark (1922) has a value of $3931.93 current dollars, and 4.50 Mark (1922) $208.16 current dollars. Can that be right?

Wie viele Scheine von diesem Notgeld wären 1923 benötigt gewesen?

How many of these bills of Notgeld (Hyperinflation currency) would have been needed in 1923?

Boss Dog Press Bone Folder in Full Production

The Boss Dog Press Bone Folder is in full production and heading into the home stretch! Don Rash and his assistants have done a beautiful job with the printing and binding. As described in the prospectus, the deluxe edition is bound in quarter leather with hidden corners and pastepapers on the sides. [Edit: More also on the Boss Dog Press site]

Deluxe edition in quarter leather with pastepaper sides

Full production, deluxe in the front, regular in full paper behind

The regular edition is covered in full pastepaper with printed paper labels on spine and front board.

Full production,  regular in full paper in the front, deluxe behind

Below, the title spread from one of the copies I have bound with a facsimile of the original 1922 edition of Der Pressbengel as a frontispiece.

The title spread

I'm going to say that I'm floored by how beautifully these are looking - very much in keeping with an aesthetic Ernst Collin would have approved of, and enjoyed.