The Travels of Baron Munchausen by Rudolph Erich Raspe
Issued in December 1929, The Travels of Baron Munchausen by Rudolphe Erich Raspe (and others) was the third book published by The Limited Editions Club. The book is a collection of the tall stories of Baron Munchausen, which have grown over time, entertaining generations of Germans and Europeans.
Due to the nature of this book and the growth of the tall tales around the Baron, LEC specifically did not print the first text, but rather aimed to published the most complete edition of stories.
The stories of the Baron was first compiled into a volume by Rudolph E Rapse, Carl van Doren’s introduction on the book is well worth reading. His description of Raspe is spot on and sets the tone for the book and its design, “… a scholar and a thief, and enough of a liar to know a masterpiece of lying when he met it.”
The book was illustrated by John Held jr, a famous cartoonist of the time, well known in particular for his work in magazines. He was a natural choice for this book.
Once again I believe it is worth including George Macy’s thoughts on the book as published in Quarto-Millenary:
"This was a "stunt", to turn America's best known comic genius loose on Manchausen; and I think now that the stunt would have been more successful if the comic genius had taken his assignment more seriously. The best things about this book are, Ithink, Paul McPharlin's stroke of genius in making his drawings of great big fishes for the binding; and Carl van Doren's stroke of genius in making his fine introduction a coruscating essay on lying."
Bound in half green-calfskin, gold-stamped with printed cloth sides. 238 pages, 7 ¼ x 10 ½ inches
Book design by William A Kittredge and printed by The Lakeside Press, set in monotype Baskerville. Printed on Worthy Signature special paper
This book being #570 of 1500 and signed by John Held jr
