Willy Jaeckel - German Expressionist

 Willy Jaeckel was a highly regarded German Expressionist and lithographer.

10 February 1888, Breslau - 30 January 1944, Berlin

His work appeared in the Olympics in 1928 and 1932, which at that time included art.  He was a professor who lost his position when the Nazis came to power, though his students successfully lobbied for his reinstatement.  Some of his work was classified as "degenerate."  Jaeckel's studio was destroyed in 1943 during bombings of Berlin, and in 1944 his apartment was destroyed by bombing and he lost his life in the rubble.

Following are two pieces that were brought to the United States by author Ilse Vogel.  Jaeckel was part of a group of artists and authors who resisted Nazism from within Berlin, and Ja.  Vogel wrote a well received and successful book about her time in Berlin - Bad Times, Good Friends.  Vogel married illustrator Howard Knotts and lived in Dutchess County.  The works below were part of the estate of Nancy Willard (author and Illustrator) and her husband Eric Lindbloom (Photographer), who were friends of Vogel and Knotts, and who served as executor's of their estate.  Knotts illustrated several of Nancy Willard's books.

Both of the works that follow are printed on paper from Verlag Euphorion.  Euphion had published several of Jaeckel's works in books/portfolios, but these, while ready for inclusion, do not seem to have been ever made available.  Verlag Euphorion  ceased operation by early 1933.  It's owner, Ernst Rathenau, emigrated to the United States.  Rathenau was Jewish, and the Nazis suspended the operation of Verlag Eurporion in 1933. Consequently these works are probably from within the period 1925-1932.   Rathenau was a collector and very interested in German Expressionism.   Additional information about Rathenau and Verlag Euphorion can be found on a page published by MOMA.  https://www.moma.org/s/ge/collection_ge/artist/artist_id-19268_role-3_thumbs.html

Sebastian was issued in a limited edition of 25.  

Helen Siegl - Katie Krodel Artbook - Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging

Maria Duch Ein Dornwald Ging is an old German Christmas Song (Maria Walks in the Thorns).  

Wikipedia provides a history of the song including some information on its written forms.  

The version we show is a 1973 reprinting of the text from 1838 - Christmas Song from North Tyrol - 1838.  The blocks were printed by Katie Krodel with specially designed blockprints by Helen Siegl.  The work is on Ingress Paper, done in an edition of 25 artist signed copies.  

 This is copy #2 and we are not aware of other copies being available.  The book is produced with pages in "accordion"  style.

It is about 8 1/4" x 4" (closed) and has 8 printed pages.

Nancy Willard - Author, Artist, and creative spirit

NANCY WILLARD  (June 26, 1936 – February 19, 2017)^[1] was an American writer: novelist, poet, author and occasional illustrator of children's books. 

She won the 1982 Newbery Medal for A Visit to William Blake's Inn.  Throughout her career also won other awards.  She published more than 70 works.

Willard taught at Vassar College in the English Department.  While best known for her literary and children's writing, she also was a creative spirit.  Following are a number of creative photographic pieces that Nancy completed in February 1994.  Shown here for the first time, we are in the process of preparing an exhibit of her art work, which is quite varied.

Nancy worked with all kinds of art.  She would make dolls to reflect characters in some of her books, and use them to spark her imagination.  Some of her painted furniture has been exhibited, but we are preparing a much larger and definitive exhibition of her work.  Friends would write to Nancy and sometimes send gifts.  She would respond with a gift of her own -- sometimes it would be a hand painted and personally designed egg representative of the depth of her imagination.

Follow our blog to keep abreast of plans for a show of Nancy's art.  

Each image measures 10 x 7

Don E. Hildreth - Private Press - Ash Ranch Press

Prior to Don Hildreth's time in San Diego, where he founded the Ash Ranch Press, he lived in New York.

Following are some of the pieces of ephemera that we have collected about that time in his life.

You are specifically drawn to spend "An Evening in Draculiana"

October 28, 1978

Signed by Hildreth #6/21

We believe this piece was designed by Robert Kramer based on the logo at the bottom.  Kramer was probably involved in various design projects for Hildreth.

Card and envelope from Don Hildreth - copyright 1983

Reads:  Don We Now Our Gay Apparel Funna Baa Lou & Jung Ju Cho - Baa - Baa _ Blue  Hildreth  1983-1984

Guest Who's coming to dinner?

2 Pieces each 11 1/2" x 7 1/2 (Image)

One is the original collage, and the other is the colorized representation of same.  The colorized piece is matted on a black matte.

2 Collages by Don Hildreth

Crazy Cats and other Creatures

What ever happened to Charlotta Twill?

1984  

A limited edition calendar produced by Don Hildreth

Dedicated to George Orwell

Copy from the first interior page of the calendar. . .

The following collection of photographs were originally published (circa 1900) in Germany.  They were the collaboration of M. Koch and O. Reigh as an art students portfolio entitled:  DER ACT.  Published as a limited & numbered edition - 

A rare piece of the work of Hildreth.

Antioch Bookplate Collection - Ex Libris

The Antioch Bookplate Company was founded in 1926 by two Antioch College students.  They started the business as a class project and when they graduated continued it.  Over the years the company grew, and changed, and ultimately the division that made bookplates was sold (in 2008).    A short history of the company can be found by clicking here.  

The company published bookplates that could be customized for the buyer, and also sold "blank" bookplates which were available in retail shops (typically bookstores).  Notably, the company engaged well known artists to design some of the plates such as Lynd Ward and Rockwell Kent.  These specific plates are highly sought after by collectors.


Boxed Cards 

Boxed Set of Mushroom Cards - contains 50 unused gum backed cards.  

Golden Wings by Boris Vallejo - contains 47 unused gum backed cards.

Boxed Set with labeled cover:  A Book is a New Adventure - Contains 47 unused gum backed cards.

Boxed Set:  "From the Library of" Cat motif.  Contains 16 peel back labels.

Boxed Set, never opened.  Ex Libris with medical symbol.  Contains 50 bookplates.

Boxed Set, never opened.  Ornate medical symbol, Ex Libris.  Contains 50 bookplates

Boxed Set, never opened.  Hippocratic oath.  Contains 50 bookplates.

Boxed Set, never opened.  Hippocrates with symbol over Greek building.  Contains 50 bookplates.










Carded/Enveloped Sets of Bookplates

Boy in a Tree - 2 plastic packs of 11 cards each (22 total).  Peel off backs.

Ex-Libris Cat on Books.  Paper pack of 12 cards.  Never opened

Girl Reading.  Plastic pack of 15 self stick, peel off back bookplates.

Jungle image.  Plastic pack of 13 self stick, peel off back bookplates.

Fantasy dragon.  Paper pack of 12 self stick, peel off back bookplates.