Homer - Ilias, Odyssee - 1923-1924

Homer: Ilias, Odyssee. 2 volumes. Askanischer Verlag, Berlin 1923-1924. Original half vellum. 421 and 337 pages.

First edition of Homer's works published by Askanischer Verlag with the illustrations by L. von Hofmann and typeset in the font designed by Marcus Behmer. Limited to 1000 copies, this one being number 786 (both volumes -- very rare to find a set of Ilias & Odyssee with matching numbers). Only this first edition from 1923/24 contains the illustrations by Hofmann as original woodcuts. The later edition from 1939 has text and illustrations in reproductions that are reduced in size.

Condition: the cloth covering of the boards lightly spotted. Some soiling and spotting to the endpapers. The bindings are partly loosened and cracked, leading also to some splitting of the endpapers (see photos). This is a common problem with this edition, where the binding material and binding technique that was used is not quite strong enough for the heavy and stiff paper. Slight age-related toning of the paper. The book block itself otherwise very clean and fresh, with no traces of humidity, soiling or use.

Weight of the two volumes combined: about 5.3 kg.