a proverb / for it / 1510 GREEK SAYINGS [printed in blue] / Compiled and edited by / B.J. MARKETOS / Translated by / CLARENCE A. MANNING / Drawings by / JOHN VASSOS / NEW WORLD PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK / 1945
230 x 160mm. Bound in full terracotta / red cloth; plain endleaves; vignette on front cover taken from one of Vassos' illustrations; decor and title stamped in gold; title runs down spine; text set in Bodoni and Cameo; printed by G.A. Cosmos Printing Co.; bound by Publisher's Book Binders, Inc. NYC. Collection: CUL, URL.
1-2 blank 3 proverbs #69, 787, 1403 4 publisher's logo and locations 5 title page 6 copyright notice 7 dedication to Basil Vlavianos 8 blank 9-11 introduction 12 blank 13-14 "word from the artist" 15-17 preface 18 blank 19-22 contents 23 half title 24 blank 25-167 text 168 blank 169 bibliography 170 blank 171-185 index of key words 186-190 index of topics 191-194 blank = 97 leaves
This title went through two printings in 1945, the first in September and the second in October, however there was no indication of the size of those printings. Vassos provided a total of 33 illustrations which were printed in blue along the lower outside margins. Until this work, Vassos' illustrations had been abstracted bold "interpretations, inventions, or conceptions" as he also called them. His work in this book take the form of simple line drawings or sketches depicting scenes from Greek life. The illustrations at times take the form of what could be considered a double page spread and are repeated often throughout the text.
(only first appearance indicated):
| 25 2 classical Greek women 26 Monastery on hill top 27 Mountain village 28 Cafe scene 29 Shoe shine boy 30-31 Fishermen 32-33 Musicians and dancers 36-37 Classical Greek philosophers 40 Card play 41 Warming up by the brazier 44-45 Drinking and wine casks |
46 Village scene with 2 women 47 Priest riding donkey 49 Flower seller 52 Sailing 53 Fishing 56 2 classical Greek women 57 Classical ship with young men on shore 60 Shepherd 61 Soldiers 62 Newspaper boy Also included were 8 sketches representing items from everyday life which were used for chapter headings. |
Of his work, Vassos writes in "A Word From the Artist" that it was a "happy commission for me to be asked to embellish with background decorations the proverbs which appear in this book. It is always easy to develop an objective successfully when the subject is a familiar one. With this in mind I feel that a word from the artist will help the reader to understand at last some of the character of the Greek and the pictorial matter in the illustrations."
Over the next few paragraphs he writes about the Greeks as a people, what moves them, and defines their identity. Proverbs played a great role in their lives, and he quotes, "that it has been said, tell me the proverbs of a people and I will tell you their character."
He further remarks that his drawings deal with the commonplace, everyday events and places. They depict the amenities of life, from the atmosphere of city and country life, down to the Turkish coffee, the bread, food, and games that are a part of this people's lives. He concludes by writing, "no attempt has been made to illustrate ideas, but rather the simple setting and the people themselves. If I have in any small measure been able to capture somewhat the feeling of Greek life, I shall feel that my aim has been accomplished."
The Vassos Papers held at Syracuse carry no mention of this title.