Helena Bochořáková’s 1930 wordless novel, Kindheit, is the German version of her Czech publication, Z Mého Detství, but with a new forward by Anselm Weißenhofer.

Dust jacket of Bochorakova's 1930 wordless novel, Kindheit, the German version of Z Mého Detství.
Dust jacket of Bochorakova’s 1930 wordless novel,
Kindheit, the German version of Z Mého Detství.
  • Title: Kindheit: 95 Holzschnitte mit Einführung von Prof. A Weissenhofer (Childhood: 95 woodcuts with an introduction by Prof. A. Weissenhofer)
  • Author and Illustrator: Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová
  • Introduction: Anselm Weißenhofer (about 1,260 words when translated into English)
  • Publication date: September 1930
  • Publisher: Adler-Verlag
  • Place of publication: Berlin
  • Printer: ?
  • Copyright: artist?
  • Binding: hard cover with a dust jacket
  • Language: German titles, etc
  • Unpaginated
  • Printed: recto
  • Editions:
    • 30 copies on hand-made paper, numbered and signed by the artist
    • 500 Trade copies printed on Antique paper (later trade publications by this author were typically done in runs of 300)
The limitation (colophon) page of Bochorakova's 1930 wordless novel, Kindheit, facing the title page. Photo credit: Antiquariat Löcker
The limitation (colophon) page of Bochorakova’s
1930 wordless novel, Kindheit, facing the title page.
Photo credit: Antiquariat Löcker
The limitation (colophon) page of Bochorakova's 1930 wordless novel, Kindheit.
The limitation (colophon) page of Bochorakova’s
1930 wordless novel, Kindheit.

Translation of the limitation (colophon) page above:

This book was published in September 1930 by

Adler-Verlag, Berlin.

30 copies were printed on handmade paper,

numbered and signed by the author. 500 copies were printed on

Antique paper.

Kindheit Limited edition – 30 copies on handmade paper

  • Dimensions: ?
  • Dust jacket: Unlikely
  • numbered and signed

NOTE: I have not seen a copy of the Limited edition. If you have information or images, please get in touch with me at wn@wordlessnovels.com.

Kindheit Trade edition – 300 copies

  • Dimensions: info to be added later
  • Dust jacket: Designed by the artist. It appears that the wood engraving for the medallion featuring the baby was reused across all four language versions of Z Mého Detství. The rest of the dust jacket would have been engraved for this particular version.
Dust jacket of Helena Bochořáková’s 1930 wordless novel, Kindheit. The medallion of the baby in the centre was done by a separate engraving which was used in all four versions.
The medallion of the baby in the centre was done by a
separate engraving which was used in all four versions.
Dust jacket of Bochorakova's 1930 wordless novel, Kindheit, laid open. The spine is missing.
Dust jacket of Bochorakova’s 1930 wordless
novel, Kindheit, laid open. The spine is missing.

Of the three copies of Kindheit I am aware of, all have detached or missing spines. If you have an image of the dust jacket spine, please send it to me, and I will give you a photo credit.

Front cover of Bochořáková’s 1930 novel, Kindheit, showing the medallion of a baby.
Front cover of Bochořáková’s 1930 novel,
Kindheit, showing the medallion of a baby.
Title page of Bochořáková’s 1930 novel, Kindheit. In this case it is signed.
Title page of Bochořáková’s 1930 novel,
Kindheit. In this case it is signed.

Note: while the title page of the Trade edition may be signed, the lack of a signature is not a deficiency. However, the 30 numbered copies should be signed.