Fritzi Löw, Mörike, Grillparzer, Hauff ... - 13 bibliophile Kleinformatbücher - 1870-1925

13 bibliophile Kleinformat books (c. 1870–1925) with original lithographs, gold edges, and Viennese book art

This extraordinary collection brings together 13 historic small-format books from the late 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century. The formats are mostly between about 8 × 11 cm and 11 × 16 cm and reflect the high art of book design of the time.

Particularly noteworthy are several rare collector’s editions from the Viennese art publisher Anton Schroll with original lithographs by the artist Fritzi Löw, who is part of the artistic milieu of Viennese Modernism. The collection includes works by prominent authors such as Franz Grillparzer, Eduard Mörike, Jean Paul, Wilhelm Hauff, Clemens Brentano, Goethe, and Schiller.

Several volumes feature decorative gold trimming, artistically designed bindings, original lithographs or illustrations. Some books also bear contemporary dedications, dates, or owner names, conveying additional historical charm and authenticity.

All books are offered exclusively as a complete collection.

1. The Enchanted Rose
Ernst Schulze, 2nd edition, 1870
Romantic tale in three cantos with woodcut illustrations. 98 pages.

Binding with age-related stains, overall good condition. Interior slightly soiled with age. All three edges gilt. A beautiful example of decorative book art from the late 19th century.

2. Poet’s greetings - New German Lyrics
Elise Polko, 11th edition, probably around 1880
624 pages, richly illustrated.

Large anthology of 19th-century German poetry. Binding shows signs of age, interior with occasional foxing. The extensive edition offers an impressive overview of popular German verse of its time.

3. Collected Writings - Volume I
Heinrich Seidel, 1893
366 pages.

Decorative publisher’s binding with gold edging on all three edges. Only the top edge slightly rubbed. Interior remarkably clean and well preserved.

4. Colorful Pictures and Songs from Nature and Life
around 1900
12 pages.

In the lower inner area of the front cover there is an old repair. Binding and pages lightly soiled. All edges gilt. Despite its age, overall beautiful and collectible condition.

5. Goethe–Schiller - Classic Ballads
around 1900
Illustrated by Hans Looschen. 164 pages.

The spine is somewhat faded due to age. Clean interior pages and illustrations. Upper gold edge. Particularly appealing is the preserved dedication from 1905, which adds historical character to the book.

6. Mozart on the Journey to Prague
Eduard Mörike, around 1900
With 14 original lithographs by Fritzi Löw. 123 pages.

Binding lightly soiled. Interior mostly clean, with occasional age-related spots. The lithographs are in good condition.

The small-format edition belongs to the popular Viennese collector’s issues of the early 20th century and combines literature and book art in a particularly charming way.

7. Bouquets of Flowers
August Wilhelm Schlegel / Karl Georg Wendriner, Berlin 1912
254 pages.

Small damage in the spine area (see photos). Interior very clean and well kept. Decorative edition with attractive design.

8. Wilhelm Hauff - Three Fairy Tales
around 1918–1925
With 16 original lithographs by Fritzi Löw. 240 pages.

Binding in good condition, with small stains on the back. Interior clean pages and lithographs.

Particularly notable is the paper quality of the text pages. The text pages show fine shimmering inclusions in the paper when held to light. Together with the 16 original lithographs by Fritzi Löw, this creates the impression of a particularly carefully and artistically executed collector’s edition from the Viennese book arts milieu. The illustration pages were printed on a different grade of paper and do not show these inclusions, underscoring the high-quality production.

9. Three Fairy Tales
Clemens Brentano, around 1920
Reprint. 319 pages.

Binding with stains, signs of use, and slightly bumped edges. Interior clean pages and illustrations. A fine example of romantic German literature in bibliophilic presentation.

10. Poems
Eduard Mörike, around 1920
Written and drawn on stone by Ida Berisch. 15 loose panels with text and lithographs.

The cover shows stains and age marks. The loose panels themselves are in clean condition. Artistically particularly appealing execution.

11. Storm Poems
1921
Written by Jutta Schulhof, drawn on stone by Ernst Kutzer. 29 pages.

Binding edges lightly rubbed. Interior with occasional spots, overall good condition. Pretty small-format artist’s edition from the early 1920s.

12. Exposé of Women
Jean Paul, around 1920–1925
With 10 original lithographs by Fritzi Löw. 74 pages.

Binding worn, pages partly foxed. Despite the signs of use, a sought-after example of the Wiener Schroll collector’s editions with original illustrations.

13. The Poor Troubadour
Franz Grillparzer, around 1925
With 12 original lithographs by Fritzi Löw. Anton Schroll Art Publishers, Vienna. 126 pages.

Binding slightly rubbed. Interior clean pages and well-preserved lithographs. This edition ranks among the most attractive small-format Schroll editions, pairing Grillparzer’s famous novella with the distinctive illustration art of Fritzi Löw.

Condition

The books are overall in good to age-appropriate condition. Signs of use, age spots, binding wear, and minor damages are to be expected for works of this age and were described to the best of our knowledge. The original lithographs and illustrations are mostly well preserved.

Please consider the photos as an essential part of the description and condition assessment.

Special features
- 13 historic small-format books
- Period c. 1870 to 1925
- Several original lithographs by Fritzi Löw
- Viennese collector’s editions from the Anton Schroll publishing house
- Romantic, Classicism, and early Modern literature
- Gold edging on several volumes
- Artistically designed bindings and illustrations
- Individual dedications, dates, and ownership marks
- Attractive collection lot from a private library
- Decorative set for bibliophiles, collectors, and enthusiasts of historic book art

A rarely offered ensemble spanning more than five decades of German literary and book history, with many illustrious artists, original lithographs, and charming small formats providing a special lure for collectors.

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