Miniature Book, República Democrática Alemana (German Democratic Republic promotional minibook), with slipcase

Book

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2025.20.22

Description

Spanish-language GDR promotional miniature book, República Democrática Alemana, in a matching slipcase. Navy leather-grain binding with gilt rules and a red gilt-lettered spine label; navy slipcase with gilt double rules and the gold-tooled GDR state emblem (hammer and compass within a wreath of grain). Illustrated throughout with color photographic plates documenting the GDR. Front leaves carry a handwritten ink dedication; the colophon credits the publisher, designers, and numerous photographers and GDR picture agencies.

Context

Produced in the GDR by Verlag Zeit im Bild (Dresden), the state publisher responsible for foreign-language promotional material, and printed at the renowned miniature-book house Offizin Andersen Nexö in Leipzig. The Spanish text targeted Spanish-speaking allied audiences; the GDR maintained close solidarity ties with Cuba. Notably, the publisher's address is on Julian-Grimau-Allee in Dresden — a street named for the Spanish communist Julián Grimau (executed by Franco's regime in 1963), underscoring the GDR's Hispanophone solidarity framing. A Cuban distribution/acquisition path is plausible but still requires provenance documentation.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.20

Acquisition Method

Gift

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Spine label: REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA ALEMANA → "German Democratic Republic" Slipcase: gold-tooled GDR state emblem Title page (printed): REPÚBLICA / DEMOCRÁTICA / ALEMANA Handwritten dedication (front leaf, blue ink): two or three lines of cursive including a personal name, a date, and two other names: “ Annemarie Engel / 11.7.75 / Siegfried Pinzel / Bodo Bertleben” Colophon (printed): "Producción: Offizin Andersen Nexö, Graphischer Großbetrieb, Leipzig" → "Production: Offizin Andersen Nexö, graphic works, Leipzig" Printing/control no.: 4018-5 "Verlag Zeit im Bild, RDA – 801 Dresden, Julian-Grimau-Allee" → "Zeit im Bild Publishing House, GDR – 801 Dresden, Julian-Grimau-Allee" "Layout: Alfred Brückner, Siegfried Hempel" Photo credits (numerous): Ackermann, Arnold, Behrendt, Berndt, Billeb, Böhle, Ettelt, Hammer, Hill, Höhne, Kaiser, Kilian, Knobloch, Leske, Müller/Straube, Nitzschke, Patzer, Pieske, Raddatz, Schauberger, Schlage, Schreiber, Simon, Stöhr, Thienel, Wlocka, Zernicke, and agency ADN-ZB (with a long list of staff photographers), plus Künstleragentur der DDR, DEFA, and Deutsches Hygiene-Museum in der DDR (numerals after names indicate photo counts)

Parts

1 miniature book (text block + binding) 1 slipcase (separate housing)

Book Details

Place Published

City

Dresden

* Untyped Place Published

G.D.R.

Region

Central Europe

Continent

Europe

Printer

Offizin Andersen Nexö

Place Printed

City

Leipzig

* Untyped Place Printed

G.D.R.

Region

Central Europe

Continent

Europe

Publication Language

Spanish

Notes

circa early-1970s

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Places

Place

* Untyped Place

G.D.R.

Region

Central Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

Production

Research Notes

Notes

The handwritten dedication is hard to read. One signature line may resemble the name of a credited designer (Siegfried Hempel), which—if correct—could make this a presentation/signed copy.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

June 30, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 4, 2026