“Petőfi Sándor összes költeményei Kiadja Az Athenaeum,”

Rare and stunning antique volumes — a singular opportunity to showcase these exhibition-quality texts. Representative volumes are exhibited in the Gemersko-Molohontske and Rimaszombat museums in Slovakia, and the Petofi Literary Museum collection in Budapest.   

These are the complete works of Hungarian national poet Petofi Sandor — the commemorative publication on the occasion of the founding of the Petofi House, Budapest, 1907. Anthenaeum Literary and Printing Joint Stock Company. 

Complete in two oversized volumes. Illustrated by Hungarian artists, in-text and in 20 copperplate prints. Covered in cerulean silk moire and embellished with colorful plant motifs, each volume features a metal relief on the front cover; one of the poet’s bust; the other of his statue on The Main Square in Bratislava. Brilliantly gilded text block. 

A near fine antique copy – remarkable for the moire covers. Only minor shelf wear, including some fraying to the top and bottom edges of the silk covers. Light pencil mark denoting price on flyleaf. Each volume is 35 cm x 26 cm.; approx. 12 lbs. combined weight.

Found inside is a 1995 Los Angeles Times obituary of Miklos Rozsa, Hungarian-born film composer and three-time Oscar winner.

Over 800 of Petőfi’s poems survive him, demonstrating examples of lyrical, romantic, and landscape poetry. He also composed the national song, which is said to be an inspiration for the 1848 Hungarian Revolution under the Austrian Empire. 

A liberal revolutionary, Petőfi served in the National Guard. He is thought to have perished in the Battle of Segesyar (Battle of Fehéregyháza). Though his grave was never found, his death was detailed in the diary of a Russian military doctor.

Franz Liszt issued a piano composition in Petőfi’s honor (Dem Andenken Petofis) and composed several pieces to accompany Petőfi’s poems.

Resources:

Petőfi Literary Museum, Budapest, Hungary

Petofi Sandor Osszes Koltemenyei exhibit in Gemersko-Malohontské Museum, Slovakia

Press coverage: Petofi Sandor Osszes Koltemenyei in Rimaszombat Museum, Slovakia