The New York Public Library holds an extensive collection of Slavic and East European avant-garde publications some of which were showcased during the Graphic Modernism From the Baltic to the Balkans, 1910–1935 exhibition held at the NYPL October 5, 2007, through January 27, 2008. Particularly well represented are books with illustrations by Czech avant-garde artists, including more than 600  Czech avant-garde books with preserved dust jackets and 28 more held in the Spencer Collection.  Among them is Vítězslav Nezval’s (1900-1958) Abeceda: taneční komposice (1926) which includes twenty-five full-page photo montages by Karel Teige (1900-1951) incorporating photographs by Karel Paspa (1899-1980) that depict Milča Mayerová’s (1901–1977) choreography and performance of Nezval’s poem. The newly acquired publications listed below enrich NYPL's holdings of Czech avant-garde titles. Descriptions of our new antiquarian acquisitions have been prepared by Michael R Weintraub of Michael R Weintraub, Inc. and James Steerman, with additional information provided by Bogdan Horbal.

Marcel Aymé, Zelená Kobyla, Edice Dobré Knihy, Svazek III  (Praha: V. Čejka, 1934). In 8vo. 264 p.

This Czech translation of Le Jument Vert was prepared by Quido Palička (1892-1962). Wrapper and title illustration are by Toyen/Marie Čerminová (1902-1980). One of 120 copies of the deluxe edition on Simili Japan with an additional five illustrations and an illustrated paper folder. Exceedingly rare, conserved in sheets. No copies of the deluxe edition are in any public collections.

Miroslav Novotny, Komedianti, feuilleton, Slunovrat, edice krásných tisků Sv. 3 (Praha: Družstení práce, 1928). Elephant Folio (60 x 47cm). Only 220 copies were printed. It includes 12 leaves and four full-page original woodcuts by Jan Rambousek (1895-1976). One of only two publications printed in conjunction with the Exhibition of Contemporary Culture in Brno in 1928 organized by Družstevní Prace [Cooperative Work] artist's cooperative in Prague, whose members included the artist and designer Ladislav Sutnar (1897-1976), and the photographer Josef Sudek (1896-1976). Rambousek’s powerful woodcuts are reminiscent of later graphic works prepared under the auspice of The Federal Art Project (1935–1943) which was a New Deal program to fund the visual arts in the United States and functioned as a subsection of the Works Progress Administration.

Šimanek, Josef: Božstva a kulty . Praha: Nákl. Autorovym, 1910. Sq 8vo. (21.5 cm.) (36) p. 14 vignettes and tailpieces, frontispiece, and five full-page color plates cut in wood by Josef Váchal (1884 -1969). Illustrated wrappers conserved in the binding of black polished calf with the gold filet. Copy no. 234 of 260 published. With a dedication from the author to František Khol (1877-1930), dramaturgist of the National Theater, writer, translator, and a librarian of the Czech National Museum.      

Pouť krkonošská by Karel Hynek Mácha (1810-1836) who is considered the greatest poet of Czech Romanticism. Published in České Budějovice by St. Kocmoud ml. in 1936. Lithographic light green wrappers. Format: 24 x 15.5cm. Edice Gemini, Volume 4. Edition of 150 copies with four original woodcuts by Czech graphic artist, František Bohumír Kouba (1906-1938), each signed and dated. The book also includes text "Karel Hynek Mácha a Pouť krkonošská" by Miroslav Haller (1901-1968), a poet, pedagogue, translator and writer who was a founding member of the České Budějovice avant-garde art association Linie.

A bibliography of writings on NYPL's collection of Slavic avant-garde materials.

• Davis, Jr., Robert H., "Collecting Modernist Works on Paper at Columbia, Cornell, and the New York Public Library: Past and Present," Slavic & East European Information Resources 18, no. 3/4 (2017): 202-222.
• Davis, Robert H. and Megan Duncan-Smith, compilers, with an Introduction by Steven Mansbach, Checklist of Russian, Ukrainian & Belarusian Avant-Garde & Modernist Books, Serials & Works on Paper at The New York Public Library & Columbia University Libraries (New York: Academic Commons, 2015).
• Davis, Jr., Robert H. and Edward Kasinec, “From Shelf to Spotlight: Rediscovering Modernist Books from Eastern Europe at The New York Public Library,” Slavic & East European Information Resources 9, no. 4 (2008): 355-373. This article is also included in the companion volume to the exhibition.
• Davis, Robert H. Jr. with Margaret Sandler with an introduction by Gail Harrison Roman and Robert H. Davis, Jr. Russian and Ukrainian Avant-garde and Constructivist Books and Serials in the New York Public Library: A First Census and Listing of Artists Represented (New York: Norman Ross Publishing, 1998). This catalog includes printed books and manuscripts by Russian and Ukrainian artists and writers identified with the Futurist and Constructivist movement who were active in the homelands and/or in emigration during the period circa 1907 to 1970. Each entry includes title, place of publication, pagination, and some NYPL copy-specific information.
• Graphic Modernism Lecture Series. In conjunction with the exhibition Graphic Modernism from the Baltic to the Balkans, 1910–1935, this series of recorded lectures introduces and explains the complex historical and political events and artistic movements of the first four decades of the 20th century in eastern Europe.
• Mansbach, S. A. with Wojciech Jan Siemaszkiewicz, with an essay by Robert H. Davis, Jr., and Edward Kasinec, Graphic Modernism from the Baltic to the Balkans, 1910-1935 ([New York]: New York Public Library, c2007). A companion volume to the exhibition.
• Siemaszkiewicz, Wojciech, "Graphic Modernism From the Baltic to the Balkans, 1910–1935," Slavic & East European Information Resources 9, no. 3 (2008): 230-233. The article briefly describes the exhibition Graphic Modernism From the Baltic to the Balkans, 1910–1935, which took place at The New York Public Library from October 5, 2007, through January 27, 2008.