Hoernes, Hermann

Buch des Fluges [3 volumes] [provenance: Österreichischer Aero-Club]

Wien: G. Szelinski, k.k. Universitäts-Buchhandlung, 1911. First Edition. Hardcover. 3 volumes: vol. 1: xv, [1], 676 p., 29 leaves of plates (some in color); vol. 2: xxiv, 680 p., 38 leaves of plates (including 1 color folded map); vol. 3: x, 551, [1] p., 18 leaves of plates, including 2 color illustrations (1 folded); 28 cm. Dark blue publisher's cloth with gilt-stamped spine titles and cover titles, and cover illustration. All page edges blue. Endpapers are dark blue with a silver pattern. Striking Art Nouveau book design by Tanna Hoernes. Volumes 1 and 2 were published in 1911, volume 3 in 1912. In addition to the plates, includes many full-page and in-text illustrations and maps. Entirely in German. Vol. 1 title page has circular stamp of the Vienna Staatsarchiv Kriegsarchiv at head and "Nachlass, Mjr. Franz Schorn" written at the foot. Vol. 2 title page is stamped at the head "Österreichischer Aero-Club" with "Nachlass Hermann Hold, Wien" written above (several other pages also have the stamp of the Österreichischer Aero-Club); also on the title page is a small oval stamp of a bookseller in Vienna. In Very Good Condition: corners are bumped and rubbed; vols 1 and 2 corners are slightly frayed and back joints are starting to separate from tail; covers are slightly soiled and rubbed; one plate in vol. 2 is detached but present (lower edge creased with 1-cm. tear not touching image); otherwise pages and plates are clean and tight. A fascinating and heavily illustrated history of flight up to immediately prior to the First World War. A very heavy set that will require extra shipping. Very Good. Item #002037

Price: $575.00