Mexican Clay Figures from the Heidemann Collection
Büchergilde Gutenberg was not only a publisher, but also a book club providing "good literature at affordable prices" to the working classes, a fact that contributed greatly to B. Traven's early success. This 1936 advertisement from the book club magazine Die Büchergilde announces a contest for recruiting new members. The prizes for the contest were provided by B. Traven himself in the form of everyday objects from Mexico, such as chocolate drinking cups and whisks (molinillo), plates, baskets, bead necklaces, woven straw items, toys and figurines.
Die Büchergilde, No. 3, March 1936, p. 47, "B. Traven donates new prizes for the members of the 'Büchergilde Gutenberg'."
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Photo by Vlasta Radan |
The Mexican clay figures pictured above (right) are from the Heidemann collection and represent just the sort of artifact that, though common and inexpensive in Mexico, would have been exotic, unusual and sought-after among the German and Swiss members of the Büchergilde Gutenberg in the 1930s.
