Casa Editorial Cenit
May 2nd, 2008 by houghtonmodern
Casa Editorial Cenit was a leading independent radical publishing house that operated in Madrid from 1928-1936, a turbulent period in Spanish history. It was founded in an effort to educate the impoverished, disenfranchised masses, and bring democratic values to a new republic.
Cenit published works in thematic groups, such as Crítica Social, La Novela de la Guerra, La Novela Proletaria, Teatro Político, and Panorama Literario Español e Hispano-Americano. Cenit published translations of works by authors such as Sherwood Anderson, Hermann Hesse, Karl Marx, and Leon Trotsky, as well as original works by Spanish authors. Close attention was paid to the typography, format, and cover design of the books as well, to create a complete, artistic reading experience.
We recently acquired a collection of 68 Cenit publications, four of which are pictured below. All four covers were designed by Julio Puyol. Clockwise from left:
*SC9.C3327.930r. C.F. Ramuz, Cumbres Espanto. 1930.
*SC9.C3327.930h2. Hermann Hesse, Demian. 1930.
*SC9.C3327.930c2. Ferreira de Castro, Emigrantes. 1930.
*SC9.C3327.931f. Lion Feuchtwanger, La Duquesa Fea. 1931.
Cenit’s logo, printed in colors corresponding to the cover design on the back of each book, can be seen here:
*2007C-1 — *2007C-68. Purchased with the Bennett Hubbard Nash Fund, the Harmand Teplow Class of 1920 Fund, and the Andrew Preston Peabody Fund. Images may not be reproduced without permission.