Czech Caricature Book Appraisal

Sto let české karikatury (One Hundred Years of Czech Caricature)

This is a hardcover book titled 'Sto let české karikatury', which focuses on the history of Czech caricature and satirical art. The book is bound in a light grey or off-white coarse linen fabric (book cloth), giving it a durable and tactile feel consistent with mid-20th-century European publishing. The front cover features dark grey or black ink-stamped ornamentation. Centered on the cover is an elaborate oval cartouche composed of fleur-de-lis and scrollwork motifs. Inside this decorative border, the title is printed in Czech using a combination of stylized Gothic and serifed capital letters. Below the title is a prominent, stylized calligraphic monogram or emblem. Based on the subject matter and typographic style, this volume likely dates to the mid-1950s (specifically 1955, edited by Ludvík Baran). The condition appears fair to good for its age, with visible darkening or 'soiling' along the bottom edge and corners of the linen board, and some minor fraying at the extreme edges. The binding remains structurally intact, though the cloth shows general surface patina and light discoloration from handling over time. The craftsmanship reflects the robust graphic design standards of Czechoslovakian art history publications of that era.