Helwig (Hellmuth), 1911-1979

Three volumes (30.5 cm), 226 (2) pp., illustrations (pp.161-192); 354 (2) pp.; 159 (1) pp. Uniform publisher’s blue cloth. - The encyclopaedic Handbuch der Einbandkunde by the Mannheim librarian Hellmuth Helwig contains many sections of enduring utility, among them those dealing with the history of bookbinding collecting, the characteristics of spurious bindings and techniques for recognising them, the bibliography of European bookbinders, and “Verzeichnis der Supralibros” (in volume II). Parts of the work were incorporated in the author’s general surveys Das Deutsche Buchbinderhandwerk (1962-1965) and Einführung in die Einbandkunde (1970), and in Einbandfälschungen: Imitation, Fälschung und Verfälschung historischer Bucheinbände (1968). Edition of 900 copies. ¶ From the auction sale of the Handbibliothek L’Art Ancien, Zürich, conducted by F. Zisska & R. Kistner, Munich, 27-28 March 1984, lot 410. Spines light-stained, few light marks on upper cover of volume III; internally a fine, unmarked copy.