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an old book with a picture of a tree on the coveran old book with a gold and green cover on a white backgroundan open book with a picture of a tree and a bird on it
Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

Estimate €200 - €300
Sale commission
Description
Art Nouveau Lefler, Heinrich and Joseph Urban Csoda-Album. (German: Wunder Album). With book decoration and 12 full-page plates, double title page and colour inside front cover by Heinrich Lefler and Josef Urban. Budapest: Pesti Napló Kiadása, 1911. 132 pp. 4°. Original cloth binding with rich floral Art Nouveau ornamentation (minimal damage to the cover, spine slightly faded). Ries 676,14. – A magnificent Hungarian Art Nouveau children’s and fairy-tale book featuring exceptionally elaborate artistic design by the Viennese artists Heinrich Lefler and Josef Urban. Published in 1911, the *Csoda-Album* – roughly translated as ‘Wunder-Album’ – combines a narrative fantasy world, an ornamentally composed book design and vibrantly coloured illustrations to form a characteristic testament to Viennese Art Nouveau in its international appeal. The design includes twelve full-page colour plates with labelled silk inserts, a double-page title page, and richly decorated endpapers in gold, pink and graduated shades of grey and blue. These are complemented by numerous drawings within the text, ornamentally framed initials and decorative elements that serve not merely as illustrations, but unite the typesetting, images and binding into a cohesively designed sequence. The cover’s green linen, richly gold-embossed and ornamentally decorated, extends this concept of a total work of art to the exterior. Lefler and Urban are among the most important designers of Viennese art around 1900. Their collaborative works are characterised by a combination of fairy-tale elements, decorative flatness, theatrical staging and elegant lines. Josef Urban in particular, who later also gained international renown as an architect and set designer, shared with Lefler a conception of art in which painting, illustration, spatial art, theatre and book design are closely interrelated. Their collaboration on interiors and architectural projects displays the characteristic organic, gently curving forms of Art Nouveau. The Csoda Album is thus far more than an illustrated book: it is a carefully staged example of Viennese and Central European book art from the period before the First World War. The colour plates unfold an imaginative visual world, whilst the ornamented text elements and endpapers create the impression of a fully realised artist’s book. It is precisely the combination of Hungarian publication, Viennese Secession aesthetics, book art, illustration and fairy-tale motifs that lends the volume its special appeal to art historians and collectors. A large-format, richly illustrated and exceptionally decorative book of Viennese Art Nouveau, of great interest to collectors of the Vienna Secession, Art Nouveau book art, children’s and fairy-tale books, illustrated books, artists’ books, book illustration around 1900, Austro-Hungarian art, and works by Heinrich Lefler and Josef Urban. As is often the case, the binding on the inner spine between the front and back covers is slightly split; otherwise, it is minimally discoloured and largely in good condition. Vienna Art Nouveau. – Rare Hungarian edition. – With 12 full-page plates, double title and coloured illustrations on the endpaper and flyleaf by H. Lefler and J. Urban. - Original gilt-stamped cloth (minor cover damage, spine slightly faded). - A magnificent Hungarian Art Nouveau children’s and fairy-tale book, exceptionally lavishly designed by the Viennese artists Heinrich Lefler and Josef Urban. Published in 1911, the *Csoda-Album* – roughly ‘Wonder Album’ in English – combines a world of narrative fantasy, ornamentally integrated book design and richly coloured illustrations into a characteristic example of Viennese Art Nouveau with an international reach. The design features twelve full-page colour plates, each protected by captioned silk guards, a double-page title page, and richly decorated endpapers in gold, pink, and graduated shades of grey and blue. Numerous illustrations within the text, ornamentally framed initials, and decorative elements complement these features. They serve not merely as illustrations, but unite typography, imagery and binding in a coherently conceived sequence. The green cloth binding, richly gilt-stamped and ornamentally decorated, carries this ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ ideal through to the exterior of the volume. Lefler and Urban rank amongst the most important designers of Viennese art around 1900. Their collaborative work is distinguished by its fusion of fairy-tale imagery, decorative flatness, theatrical staging and elegant linear design. Josef Urban in particular, who later achieved international recognition as an architect and stage designer, shared with Lefler a conception of art in which painting, illustration, interior design, theatre and book production were closely intertwined. Their collaborations on interiors and architectural projects reveal the organic, softly flowing forms characteristic of Art Nouveau. The Csoda-Album is therefore far more than an illustrated book: it is a carefully staged example of Viennese and Central European book art from the years leading up to the First World War. Its colour plates create a richly imaginative visual world, whilst the ornamented textual elements and endpapers give the impression of a fully integrated artist’s book. The combination of Hungarian publication, Viennese Secessionist aesthetics, book art, illustration and fairy-tale subject matter lends the volume particular appeal to art historians and collectors. A large-format, richly illustrated and highly decorative work of Viennese Art Nouveau, of considerable interest to collectors of the Vienna Secession, Art Nouveau book art, children’s and fairy-tale books, illustrated books, artists’ books, book illustration around 1900, Austro-Hungarian art, and works by Heinrich Lefler and Josef Urban. As is usually the case, the inner hinges of the front and rear endpapers are slightly split; otherwise, the book is minimally browned and generally in very good condition. - As is usually the case, the cover is slightly chipped at the inner hinge of the endpapers; otherwise, it is minimally browned and largely in fine condition. Otherwise, a good copy.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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