Two Typed Letters, signed ("Bruno") to designer Irv Koons, regarding the proposed publication by Random House of Munari's L'UOMO DEL CAMION, with related materials

Munari, Bruno

Published by New York, Milan, 1948

About this Item

Two Typed Letters, signed ("Bruno") to designer Irv Koons; two Typed Letters (one signed) from Arnoldo Mondadori Editore to Koons; paper sample to be used by Mondadori in printing of the American edition of L'UOMO. 8vo (11 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.). Revealing correspondence between Bruno Munari (1907-1998) and Irv Koons (1922-) and between Koons and A. Mondadori Editore about the possibility of Random House (who Koons worked for at the time) publishing Munari's L'uomo del camion (1945), the second installment of his "I libri Munari series of seven illustrated children's books. For reasons unknown, the deal fell through and it was not until 1968 that World Publishing began releasing the first American editions of Munari's now classic children's books. Munari wrote his children's book series "I libri Munari" when employed by the publisher A. Mondadori Editore. No longer with the firm (who maintained the books' copyrights) when these letters were written, he would receive half the royalties of an American edition. Munari makes it clear that he wants to be involved in the process (he had a bad experience with the French edition) but trusts Koons and respects his editorial and artistic tastes: "It is perfectly all right with me, if you are to do over the pictures: I have not seen any of your work, but when we met here we got along fine and we seemed to have the same ideas." In his next letter, Munari praises Koons' work, which he has now had a chance to see. Munari's warmth and humor is apparent in these letters (translated from the Italian and typed by his cousin Maria), as when he laments that a planned exhibit of his work in New York was canceled: "I am sorry to say the showing of my work in New York did not take place, because, during the voyage, damp sea air spoiled the balance of my wooden useless machines and at the customs they completed the good work by opening the boxes and pulling out things pell mell and almost everything was ruined. Some of them which escaped ship wrecking are hung in the office of Mr. Romeo Toninelli, who gave a party to show them." Included with these letters are two typed letters from A. Mondadori Editore to Koons giving estimated printing costs, suggested royalty arrangements, and a sample of the paper to be used. With their flip-books, cut-outs, and colorful illustrations, the seven "I libri Munari" are some of the most innovative and pleasing 20th-century children's books. Light creasing, one letter docketed "Munari" in Koons' hand; near fine Two Typed Letters, signed ("Bruno") to designer Irv Koons; two Typed Letters (one signed) from Arnoldo Mondadori Editore to Koons; paper sample to be used by Mondadori in printing of the American edition of L'UOMO. 8vo (11 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.). Seller Inventory # 238272

Bibliographic Details

Title: Two Typed Letters, signed ("Bruno") to ...

Publisher: New York, Milan

Publication Date: 1948

Signed: Signed by Author(s)