o 1921 Die Passion Wolff Ltd

The publication by Kurt Wolff Verlag of the wordless novel, Die Passion eines Menschen, was instrumental in bringing Masereel to the attention of the general public.

750 copies done in two versions:

• #1 – 50, on Japan paper; numbered and signed by the artist
• #51 – 750, on rag paper; numbered but not signed (some copies have been signed)

1921 Die Passion eines Menschen, 25 Holzschnitte v. Frans Masereel

• Author and Illustrator: Frans Masereel
• Introduction: no
• Date of publication: 1921
• Publisher: Kurt Wolff Verlag
• Place of publication: Munich
• Printer: Dr. C. Wolf & Sohn in Munich
• Copyright: Artist?
• Language: German titles, etc
• Paginated: unpaginated
• Printed: recto
• Edition: limited
• Printed from the original wood blocks:
• References: Ritter B a 5 II. – Von der Gabelentz B 31 a und S. 34f

1921 Wolff # 1 to 50

• Dimensions: 28.5 H x 23 W cm
• Binding: dark blue full leather; 5 decorative, raised bands on the spine
• slipcase: ? probably?
• Hand dipped marbled endpapers
• black ribbon bookmark
• top edge gilt
• Description: Gold embossed: title on spine; thin line around perimeter of covers as well as a thin line on the actual edge of the covers; on leather portion of the inside back cover “E. A. Enders Leipzig” (the book binder, founded in 1873 in Leipzig, Germany).

1921 #51 to #750 Wolff

• Slipcase with numbered label
• Dust jacket is done in a plain mottled brown paper – same as the paper covering the slip case
• Numbered on the limitation page (some unnumbered copies exist)
• Dimensions: 11.5″H x 9.25″W x 0.25″ thick
• Original black half leather (spine and corners) over marbled boards; at least on some copies the black dye is dusty and rubs off.
• Top edge gilt; fore edge and bottom uncut
• Printed on rag paper.
• References: Arnold, Malerbuch 1984. Göbel 535. Coll. Kritter XI / 8. Rifkind II, 1843. Knight B a) 5.II.