Od Svítání Do Šera [From Dawn Until Dusk]

[SIGNED] [JUVENILE] [POETRY] [WOMAN ILLUSTRATOR] [CZECH LANGUAGE]. Marie FISHEROVÁ-KVĚCHOVÁ, illustrator.

English translation:From Dawn Until Dusk

SIGNED First edition. 4to (12 ¼" x 10 ½"); [34]pp; white linen over board, red and blue lettering on front, a color pictorial of two children running with a small dog on the front; block printed floral eps; pictorial title page; illustrator's signature on first page after the title; historiated drop caps start each poem; illustrations every page; publisher's gray board slipcase with orange label on front; fine in very good plus slipcase. OCLC locates 6 copies of this first edition, 1 in the U.S., 1 in Czechia, and one in the UK. (Beran, Tschechische Kinderbücher, Cat. 80, 298.)

A bright and beautiful book following two young children on their daily activities and play. From wake-up, through bath-time, dress and grooming, play in a flowered meadow and with a pet goat, swimming, lunch and nap time, playtime, and ends when they are tucked into bed by winged cherubs.

The publisher, Eduard Fastr, was a prominent Czech bookbinder, bookseller and publisher located in Prague, having established book and printing shops also in Jaroměř, Jilemnice, and Louny.

The publisher's statement in the rear notes that the book is printed on Zanders natural paper using a six-color transfer printing process and Plantin typeface by an industrial printer in Prague. The book was printed in an edition of 5000 with 100 copies signed by the author. As a note, Zanders paper was produced in Germany until April of 2021 when the company was closed. Zanders is a high-quality paper known for its resistance to grease and stains.