Two Third Reich KdF (Kraft durch Freude) Volkswagen items
NP, ca 1938. Softcover. 1) Der Kdf-Wagen von A bis Z: Ein Handbuch vom Kdf-Wagen. Volkswagenwerk G.m.b.H. Berlin. Breidenstein Verlagsgesellschaft, Frankfurt a. M. ND (ca. 1938). Octavo. Unpaginated (124pp). Quarter-cloth over blind-stamped tan wraps in original illustrated dust jacket. Scarce early A to Z Volkswagen handbook. Profusely illustrated with reproductions of photographs in duo tone as well as drawings. Photographs by Georg von Stavenhagen and Archiv Volkswagenwerk, dj illustration and drawings by Thomas Abeking. Text in German by K. H. von Graeve. "Dieses Handbuch wird Sie in einfacher Weise mit Ihrem KdF-Wagen vertraut machen und soll Sie als treuer Ratgeber auf allen Fahrten begleiten. Was gesagt wird, muß jeder Fahrer von seinem Wagen wissen. In der Mitte des Buches sehen Sie den KdF-Wagen mit seinen wesentlichen Einzelteilen..." Very minor chipping on head and tail of spine, slight abrasion on fore-edge of front wrapper. Minor chipping and creasing on dj. Discoloration on first and last leaf. Small stamp of previous owner on title-page. Tight copy with dj and wraps in very good, interior in near fine condition. Scarce.
2) Der KdF-Wagen (Kleiner Prospekt). Wien. (ca 1938). Original wraps with a color reproduction of a drawing by Demar. 8pp. (incl. wrappers) Kraft durch Freude-Wagen advertisement pamphlet. Illustrated with reproductions of color drawings and b/w sketches of the car. Text in German, gothic script, explaining available body styles of the Beetle as well as its origins, design, accessories and specifications. Scarce pre-WWII sales brochure of the original Käfer. Two sentences by previous owner handwritten on front cover. Vertical center-crease due to previous fold, otherwise in very good condition.
Kraft durch Freude (Strength through joy) was a large state-controlled leisure organization in the Third Reich which was a part of the German Labor Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront - DAF). Set up by Dr. Robert Ley, the organization was a tool to promote the advantages of National Socialism to the broad masses. The name given to the car in 1938 was KdF-Wagen (short for Kraft durch Freude). vg. Item #27875
Unique collection of early Volkswagen publications.
Price: $1,750.00