Max Slevogt - Alte Märchen [Nr. 189/200] - 1920

Max Slevogt – Old Fairy Tales – 1920 – Signed Original Lithograph – Numbered Deluxe Edition 189/200

Rare and complete deluxe edition in the original parchment portfolio, with an original lithograph by Max Slevogt signed by the artist in his own hand.

Bibliographic Details

* Artist: Max Slevogt (1868–1932)
* Text: Joachim Zimmermann
* Title: Old Fairy Tales, Drawn with the Pen by Max Slevogt, Set into Words by Joachim Zimmermann
* Publisher: Propyläen-Verlag, Berlin
* Year of publication: 1920
* Edition: First edition, numbered deluxe edition
* Print run: 200 copies
* Copy number: 189/200
* Format: Landscape folio, approx. 30–32 × 38 cm
* Binding: Original parchment portfolio with the artist’s signature stamped in gold on the front cover

Contents

According to the bibliographic collation, the complete deluxe edition comprises:

* 20 large-format plates based on pen drawings by Max Slevogt
* 1 additional original lithograph signed by the artist in his own hand
* 26 text and accompanying leaves, including the title page, table of contents, and colophon

47 leaves in total, including 21 graphic leaves.

Each of the 20 fairy tales is accompanied by a corresponding illustration by Slevogt.

The tales included draw, among other sources, on the Brothers Grimm, Wilhelm Hauff, Charles Perrault, and other classic fairy-tale traditions. They include, for example, The Brave Little Tailor, Little Muck, Bluebeard, The Swan Princess, Dwarf Nose, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and The Beautiful Melusine.

Special Features of the Deluxe Edition

This edition was produced by the Reich Printing Office in a print run of just 200 numbered copies. The original parchment portfolio was made at H. Söchting’s workshop in Berlin.

As a special extra, this edition includes the original lithograph Snow White at Her Morning Toilet, signed in pencil by the artist in his own hand.

The lithograph is printed on thin, Japanese-paper-like stock and mounted in a passe-partout. It displays the lively, spontaneous draftsmanship characteristic of Slevogt.

Unlike the standard book edition, this bibliophile deluxe edition presents the plates and text leaves loose in a specially made original portfolio.

Artistic Significance

Alongside Max Liebermann and Lovis Corinth, Max Slevogt is one of the leading representatives of German Impressionism.

His graphic work is distinguished by an especially free, animated, and expressive line. The illustrations in this collection of fairy tales combine narrative vitality, humor, and virtuoso draftsmanship.

The portfolio is one of Slevogt’s notable bibliophile illustrated works from the period immediately after the First World War.

Condition

Complete deluxe edition with all plates, fairy-tale texts, and the signed original lithograph.

The plates and prints are in good condition. The delicate signed original lithograph is particularly well preserved.

Some text and accompanying leaves show light, mostly marginal foxing. This is not pronounced and does not affect the illustrations.

The original parchment portfolio is in very good condition for its age.

Overall, a handsome and complete copy of this rare bibliophile deluxe edition.

Bibliographic References

Rümann 63a; Söhn 329b.

An attractive artist’s portfolio, limited to just 200 copies, with 20 fairy-tale illustrations and an additional original lithograph by Max Slevogt, signed by the artist in his own hand.