Beschreibung:

135 books published by “Tarshish Books” of Dr. Moshe Spitzer, or designed, arranged and produced by Dr. Moshe Spitzer, for other publishing houses. Eretz Israel, 1940 until 1979. This exceptionally unique collection includes nearly all books published by “Tarshish Books” (101 titles listed in catalogue “Dr. Moshe Spitzer – Books, Letters, Design” edited by Dr. H. J. Katzenstein during early 1980’s, of which approximately 90 appear in this collection) along with books published by Tarshish which are not listed in abovementioned catalog, several books (almanacs) designed by Dr. Moshe Spitzer during the period in which he managed the “Schocken” publishing house in Berlin (Almanach des Schocken Verlags volumes) as well as books designed by Spitzer for other publishing houses, especially for Bialik Institute and The Jewish Agency. This collection includes several of the rare prints of Tarshish publishing house: the portfolio “eight original color prints by Israeli artists” including prints of Ofek, Bergner, Gross, Wexler, Zaritsky, Tamir, Kahana and Tumarkin printed in 125 numbered copies during the early 1960’s; portfolio with eleven lithographs by Pinchas Litvinovsky; first edition of “The Lay of the Love and Death of Cornet Christopher Rilke” by Rainer Maria Rilke, printed in 1942 in 111 copies; elegant facsimile of “Birds' Head Haggadah”, published in 600 copies in 1965 which was one of finest facsimile enterprises at the time; special edition of the book “Kmehim U’Pitriyot” which was printed in 1952 in fifty copies and contains illustrations of colored mushrooms by Ruth Koppel; copy of the speech by S. Y. Agnon upon receiving the Nobel Prize in Stockholm which was printed upon handmade Japanese paper in 120 numbered copies in 1968 (entire edition given as gift to Agnon to be distributed by him); woodcuts by Jacob Pins for the story by Heinrich von Kleist “Michael Kohlhaas” in a portfolio, in special edition printed in 25 copies; and many other rare books. In the preface of the exhibition catalog which was arranged in honor of Dr. Moshe Spitzer, in Jewish National and University Library in 1981, Professor Malachi Beit-Arie wrote: Dr. Spitzer's pioneering and revolutionary activities in the spheres of Hebrew book design and printing, and his contribution to the development of the Hebrew letter, have earned him an important place among printers who have left their mark on the history of the Hebrew book in the past five hundred years. Dr. Spitzer is endowed with qualities which rarely combine in one man: mastery of book printing and production; knowledge of the history of the book and familiarity with the styles of ancient Hebrew script, Medieval manuscripts and the printing era; open-mindedness, inspiration and a broad education, close acquaintance with Western, Eastern, and Jewish cultures, sensitivity to the plastic arts, good taste and a refined aesthetic perception. This blend of craftsman, artist and scholar is evident in the book that he designed, printed and produced, which are among the most beautiful created in Eretz Israel. His approach, and the typographical and aesthetic principles that he applied to the book of his design, have served as models for all lovers of books and of printing, for book designers and publishers. His love for the printed book is imparted in the unstinting and wholehearted advice he extends to those in need of his expertise, his taste and his erudition”. This rare collection, whose whole is far greater than the sum of its parts contains a rich, diverse and direct typographic elegantly designed publication encompassing an enterprise produced over the span of 40 years. The collection of all these Tarshish books is a tribute of both material and spiritual praise to Dr. Moshe Spitzer which demonstrates his perceptional, expansive, and encompassing monumental enterprise. Source: Collection of Arnie Druck.