From our collection: Yiddish art books from Der kval

When you look at the cover of Der alter un der yam, the Yiddish translation of The Old Man and the Sea, you notice right away that this is no ordinary foreign language version of Hemingway. Designed and illustrated by renowned Jewish artist Leonard Baskin, this title is one of twelve works published by Israel London under the imprint Der kval / The Source. The other books are every bit as artful, and include ambitious translations of Kafka and Agnon, as well as works by famous Yiddish writers.

London was active in publishing from 1916 until his death in 1966, and founded important publishing companies in Vienna, Paris, and New York. His legacy includes forty-four meticulously crafted titles, each of which was selected by London himself. For London, the books themselves were works of art: most contain beautiful illustrations, and many feature covers and spines designed by famous artists.

London’s last imprint, Der kval, was named after the first publishing company he helped found in Vienna. All twelve books published by Der kval are spectacular, but here are some of our favorites:

	Amerike un Ikh / America and I by Aaron Glantz-Leyeles New York, 1963. A re-publication of Glantz-Leyeles’ famous poem cycle with design and illustrations by Joseph Foshko.
	Der protses / The Trial by Franz Kafka New York, 1966. The last book London ever published. The translation is by Melekh Ravitch, the poet who co-founded the original Der kval in Vienna with London. Illustrated by Yosl Bergner.
	Der kholem iz mayn eydes / The Dream Is My Witness by Meir Shtiker New York, 1965. Original poetry by Shtiker, illustrated with watercolors by Moshe Soyer.

Other Der kval books available through our Digital Yiddish Library (click the images to view each book in the catalog):

Zalman Shneour's Der Mamzer	Haim Haziz's Der Taykh Geyt	Eliezer Rubinshtayn's translation of A Poshete Mayse	Jacob Glatstein's Di Freid Fun Yidishn Vort	A.M. Fuchs's Di Nacht Un Der Tog