ALBUM of the Polish Legions. Under the protectorate [...] of General Juljan Stachiewicz compiled by: text:...

ALBUM of the Polish Legions. Under the protectorate [...] of General Juljan Stachiewicz compiled by: text: Waclaw Lipinski, photo material: Eugenjusz Quirini, watercolor drawings: J. Swirysz-Ryszkiewicz and A. Nałęcz-Korzeniowski. [Warsaw, cop. 1933]. General Ledger. Military. 4, pp. [9], 363, plate 7. original cloth cover, card case.
VG 114-115; Now o. III.12.3. Distinct rubbing of case, otherwise very good condition. Graphic design by Atelier Girs-Barcz. Publisher's binding by Robert Jahoda. Very rich illustrative material. "Even after years the 'Album of the Polish Legions' dazzles. The large, oblong format, the magnificent paper and typeface, and above all the superbly designed page layout and unparalleled photographs. A total of 740 of them are included in the book! They perfectly capture the everyday life of a soldier. They were taken mostly by anonymous authors, in many cases legionaries. The photographs and the Girs-Barcz duo are the greatest assets of this album. The weakest side of the book is the watercolors of the once so highly regarded Swirish-Ryszkiewicz. 'Album of the Polish Legions' is not only a monument to Pilsudski's formations, but also a tribute to the Marshal by the entire society. It was published with funds set aside for this purpose by Polish enterprises [...]. 'Album of the Polish Legions' is the first Polish book of world renown since Mortkowicz publications and the Paris exhibition in 1926. At the book exhibition in Florence, the Main Military Bookstore received the Grand Prix and Gold Medal for it. Thus, the publisher and graphic designers were a huge success. Thanks to the 'Album of the Polish Legions' and other monumental publications similar to it in the 1930s, Atelier Girs-Barcz and Główna Księgarnia Wojskowa permanently took the place vacated by Jakóba Mortkowicz as the editor of the most beautiful Polish books" (J. Straus "Cut. War. 2014, pp. 124-126).