In 1948 Budzinski revised his 1924 wordless novel, Totentanz, and re-titled it “The Victory of Life” giving more emphasis to his heroine meeting and defeating The Grim Reaper. He reused 6 of the 8 images from the 1924 publication to produce a more easily read wordless story and added a new introduction.

Comparison of the 1948 publication on the left to the 1924 copy of Robert Budzinski's Totentanz.
Comparison of the 1948 publication on the left to
the 1924 copy of Robert Budzinski’s Totentanz.
Photo credit: Witold Olbryś

Title: Der Sieg des Lebens (Auch ein Totentanz) translated:The Victory Of Life (Also A Dance Of Death)

  • Author: Robert Budzinski
  • Illustrator: Robert Budzinski
  • Introduction: Hanns Heeren
  • Date of publication: 1948
  • Publisher: Otto Dikreiter
  • Place of publication: Hanover
  • Printer: C. W. Niemeyer in Hameln
  • Copyright: Artist?
  • Dimensions:
  • Binding: Folder with a folded double page containing a title page, a one page introduction, and a one page introduction’ as well as 6 plates telling the story
  • Boards: paper covered?????
  • Language: German titles, etc
  • Paginated: unpaginated
  • Printed: each sheet is printed single sided
  • Edition: limited to 185 copies
  • Appears to have been printed from the original woodblocks
  • Description: each of the six prints are signed in pencil by the artist.
1948 folder cover of Robert Budzinski's wordless novel, Der Sieg des Lebens, showing Death approaching a despondent looking woman.
1948 folder cover of Robert Budzinski’s wordless novel, Der Sieg des
Lebens, showing Death approaching a despondent looking woman.
Open folder of Robert Budzinski's Der Sieg des Lebens showing the title page.
Open folder of Robert Budzinski’s Der Sieg
des Lebens showing the title page.
Folded double page showing title and limitation (colophon) page of Robert Budzinski's Der Sieg des Lebens
Folded double page showing title and limitation
page of Robert Budzinski’s Der Sieg des Lebens
Limitation (colophon) page of Robert Budzinski's Der Sieg des Lebens.
Limitation (colophon) page of Robert Budzinski’s Der Sieg des Lebens.

Translation of the above limitation page:

Seventh printing of the collector’s editions
published by Otto Dikreiter in Hanover for Hanns Heeren
and his friends.
The portfolio was printed in 1948 by C. W. Niemeyer
in Hameln; every single sheet is hand-
signed by the artist.
A one-time edition of 185 pieces was produced,
which are numbered consecutively.

Number ______

NOTE: the reference to “Seventh printing” does not mean this is the 7th printing of Der Sieg des Lebens. It means it is the 7th publication by Otto Dikreiter in his collector’s series.

1948 introduction to Robert Budzinski 's Der Sieg des Lebens by Hanns Heering printed on the reverse side of the title page and limitation page.
1948 introduction to Robert Budzinski ‘s Der Sieg des Lebens by Hanns
Heering printed on the reverse side of the title page and limitation page.
First image of Robert Budzinski's 1948 Der Sieg des Lebens with signature like all the six images.
First image of Robert Budzinski’s 1948 Der Sieg
des Lebens. All six images are signed in pencil.
The 6 blocks (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8) used from the 1924 edition to tell the story in the 1948 Der Sieg des Lebens by Robert Budzinski.
The 6 blocks (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8) used from the 1924 edition to tell
the story in the 1948 Der Sieg des Lebens by Robert Budzinski.

NOTE: image #2 from 1924 was used on the cover of the 1948 publication and not as part of the story. Image #6 from 1924 was deleted entirely.