DAV. Ročník II. Kompletní ročník

DAV. Ročník II. Kompletní ročník [DAV. Year II – Complete Second Year]. Bratislava: DAV, 1926. 4to. Complete year II comprising all issues published: no. 1 (20 pp.) and double issue nos. 2–3 (31 pp.). Original typographic wrappers printed in black and red, featuring striking constructivist design. With contributions by Peter Jilemnický, Laco Novomeský, Daniel Okáli, J. Rob Poničan, F. C. Weiskopf, and others; wrappers designed by Mikuláš Galanda. Laid in is an original DAV subscription card stamped by the editorial office.

An exceptionally early and rare complete year of the influential Slovak left-wing avant-garde periodical DAV, founded by the circle of young Marxist intellectuals around Novomeský, Okáli, Clementis, and Poničan. The magazine served as a principal forum for Slovak literary modernism, revolutionary politics, and progressive art criticism during the interwar period. Particularly noteworthy are the contributions by Peter Jilemnický and the reproductions of works by Mikuláš Galanda, among the leading figures of Slovak modern art. The bold constructivist covers are characteristic examples of Central European avant-garde graphic design of the 1920s.

Condition: Issue no. 1 in poor condition: front and rear wrappers detached and requiring restoration; chipping and losses to wrapper edges; text complete (pp. 1–20), internally good with dog-eared corners, staining to the margin of the first page, and a few short tears to page edges. Double issue nos. 2–3 in fair condition: front and rear wrappers detached, loss to upper wrapper margin, general edge wear; text complete (pp. 1–31), internally good with light moisture staining to margins. Subscription card well preserved. Despite the fragile state of the wrappers, a complete and scarce survival of the entire second year of the most important Slovak avant-garde journals.