The wordless novel, My Book of Hours, was self-published in New York by Masereel in 1922.
In addition to below, I recall (perhaps erroneously) a reference to a 1922 Paris publication – if you have any information about a Paris edition, please advise wn@wordlessnovles.com
1st American – My Book Of Hours: 167 Designs Engraved On Wood 1922
Publisher: Frans Masereel, New York City NY
Dated 1922
Limited to 600 copies for America
- should be signed by Masereel
- Masereel typically signed with lavender pencil
- some copies have been signed but no number has been stamped(?) I assume these are over-runs outside the 600 copies.
- should be numbered
- mechanically numbered out of 600
- numbering was stamped with a machine in red ink (sometimes this appears to be blackish)
- An English introduction by Romain Rolland (Note: the Wolff German Trade editions for 1926/27/28 had an introduction by Thomas Mann)
- 167 woodcuts recto only.
- Squarish 8vo. (7 x 5 inches) or ” 6.75” x 4.75”.
- printed white (cream?) boards;
- non-paginated;
- this version removed two plates that were in the original (a sex scene and also urination by the Hero)
- it came with a thin card slipcase
Note: it strikes me that I have seen a disproportionate number of copies from this edition with cracked hinges, missing spines, etc.
Photo credit:Type Punch Matrix.
