1946 Small trade and craft plan brochure

Pavel Sajal Budujeme velké dílo / Building a Great Work Nové směry živnostenského podnikání – New Directions in Small Trade and Craft Enterprise Praha: Československá sociální demokracie, 1946. Design by L. Svášek. Printed by Cíl tiskárské a vydavatelské podniky, Most. First edition. 8°, 21 × 15 cm. 24 pp. Original typographic orange and black wrappers in late constructivist / avantgarde style. A scarce postwar Social Democratic programmatic brochure by Pavel Sajal, member of parliament and chairman of the Central Union of Czechoslovak Crafts. The striking wrapper design reflects the lingering aesthetics of late constructivism, with bold geometric arrangement of title, author, and year. Sajal addresses the role of small trade, artisanship, and independent business in postwar Czechoslovakia. The text argues against the fear that socialism would abolish small enterprises, asserting instead their place within a socially just and democratic economic order. Chapters discuss: The relationship between socialism and small business – defending artisans from accusations of exploitation, while distinguishing them from monopoly capital. The contribution of artisans to the state – emphasizing resilience during economic crises, adaptability, and social value. Social insurance for tradesmen – demanding equal social protection (pensions, sickness, accident cover) as enjoyed by industrial workers. Credit for business and consumers – proposing state-supported cooperative credit, modeled partly on Soviet and Scandinavian examples. The future of cooperatives and guilds – urging participation in unions and federations, and stressing solidarity among trades. The work combines ideological defense with concrete economic proposals: state-backed loans, pension schemes, and integration of artisans into the broader reconstruction effort. Credit for business and consumers – proposing state-supported cooperative credit, modeled partly on Soviet and Scandinavian examples. The future of cooperatives and guilds – urging participation in unions and federations, and stressing solidarity among trades. The work combines ideological defense with concrete economic proposals: state-backed loans, pension schemes, and integration of artisans into the broader reconstruction effort. INV BX1