Fromm und Froh: Ein Meßbüchlein f. Kinder
Westphalen: Laumann / Dülmen, 1938. First edition. 18mo, 72 pp, illustrated with 20 full page color images and numerous small illustrations and devices in the text. Text in German. Bound in the original cream boards with orange decorations and titles, and the printed dust jacket.
First and only edition of this Catholic liturgical children's book by the priest and artist Melchior Grossek, best known for his series Gestalten des Todes - the most powerful Totentanz of the 20th century. Fromm und Froh was published early in 1938, shortly before the outbreak of the war, and is now rare. OCLC locates only three holdings worldwide, none of which are in North America.
The illustrations through the book are by Sister Eberhardis Kohlstedt (1901-1992), artist, sculptor, and member of the Ordensgemeinschaft der Franziskanerinnen von der Buße und der christlichen Liebe.
Near fine, with the occasional spot of foxing and a few slight bumps to binding, in a very good dust jacket that is a bit soiled and tidemarked, with some fraying to extremities. Item #29251
Price: $150.00