Jongens van Alle Stranden
Hilversum: Uitgeverij 'Het Boekengilde', 1935. First edition. 8vo, 79 [1] pp, bound in pictorial boards printed in two colors. Text in Dutch. Illustrated by Fritz Winkler, who also contributes the cover drawing of Jan Conte. With glossary. Illegible ink inscription and two b/w snapshots tipped onto title page.
The first edition of Smelik's work on sea tramps. A unique copy which has two small b/w snapshots of a sea tramp tipped onto the title page, both picturing him sprawled out onto a sidewalk alongside a faithful dog. The man in the photograph strongly appears to be the model for the Conte drawing on the cover of the book.
Klaas Smelik was a communist, a contributor to De Tribune, and a member of the Arbeiders-Schrijverscollectief Links Richten who had been a sailor and wrote a couple of other books about sea life. He was an ex-lover of Etty Hillesum, and worked to have her writings published after her death in a concentration camp - they were eventually published by Smelik's son.
A few light marginal pencil notations in the text, browning to the extremities of the boards, and the occasional spot of foxing; a solid, clean, very good copy. Item #23062
Price: $150.00