Germany, Third Reich. A Tribute Art Book For Ah’s 50Th Birthday, Owned By Ss-Oberführer Karl Herwig

The book’s author and title can be found on the spine. It reads “Karl Vesper: Zum 50. Geburtstag des Führers” (on account of the 50th birthday of the Führer). It is in the style of a photo album, with pages alternating between drawings of leaves or flowers and postcard-style pieces of artwork and poems. On the final page it is stated “The original of this book, which I presented to the Führer and Reich Chancellor, I drew in the city of Heide in Holstein. Stetting, April 20, 1939, Karl Vesper”. The book contains a preface by Will Vesper. Any relation to the author is unknown but possible. On the first page is a library affiliation card showing potentially a family crest. The book belonged to Karl Herwig. The motto on the crest reads in regional vernacular “Freedom is more important than life itself”. Measuring 188 mm (w) x 238 mm (h), presenting light warping of the book and scuffing of the spine, the body of the book remaining undamaged, remains better than very fine.

Footnote: Karl Herwig was born on July 25, 1895 in Wesselburen (northern Germany). He was a veteran of the First War. Herwig was a member of the Stahlhelm Bund from 1925 to 1927. In 1928, he joined both the NSDAP (member number 97,428) and the SA, beginning a successful career in local politics. Herwig transferred from the SA to the SS (member number 5,447) in 1930. He was in command of SS Standarte 53 from 1932 to 1945. Since 1933, Herwig served as mayor of Wesselburen. In this function, he called for the boycott of Jewish shops. In 1937, SS Standarte 53 was transferred to the city of Heide in Holstein. Herwig asked Himmler to be made mayor of Heide. His request was granted. Herwig was promoted to SS-Oberführer (colonel equivalent) in 1941. After the war, Herwig spent nearly two and a half years in internment. As a member of the SS, he was sentenced to nine months in prison and a fine of 2000 Reichsmark, as well as an additional year in prison for crimes against humanity. Due to his internment time, both sentences were seen as already served. Herwig died on January 20, 1967.

Will Vesper was born on October 11, 1882 in Barmen (Wuppertal, western Germany). He was an author, publisher, and literary critic. Between 1923 and 1943 he published a magazine, initially called “Die schöne Literatur” (Beautiful Literature), in 1930 renamed to “Die Neue Literatur” (New Literatur), which became the leading Third Reich literary magazine. Vesper was an early follower and later influential propagandist of Third Reich ideology. He was one of the organisers of the infamous public burning of books of “un-German” literature. Vesper was known for defaming publishers and authors that he accused of spreading “anti-German” or “Jewish” sentiments. Such was his zealousness in the matter that by 1936 he had lost most of his influence, since by then he was even attacking government sanctioned offices he felt did not represent Third Reich ideology accurately. Vesper retired from all functions except publishing his magazine. After the end of the war, he continued to publish extreme rightwing ideology and read for rightwing literary audiences. Vesper died on March 11, 1962.