I just ran across this while looking for other things—it’s on the Library of Congress website, http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/egw/polishex.html:
‘Emblem of Good Will’: A Polish Declaration of Admiration and Friendship for the United States of America
From the LOC’s introduction:
Quote:
Perhaps there has never been a more extraordinary gift given by one nation to another than the 111 volumes presented to the United States by Poland on the 150th anniversary of American independence. These volumes consist of a declaration of admiration signed by an estimated 5,500,000 Polish citizens, representing more than one- sixth of the total population of Poland in 1926…. The inspiration for the gift was the custom, popular among Polish schoolchildren, of presenting a classmate or teacher with an album (Ksiega Pamiatkowa) inscribed by each child with good wishes, drawings, a favorite poem or merely a signature in commemoration of some special occasion. As organized by Polish American leaders and executed in part by leading contemporary Polish artists, this Ksiega Pamiatkowa became a multi- volume compendium of signatures, original artwork, fine calligraphy, official seals, photographs, and decorative bindings.
There’s some very striking heraldic design and gorgeous craftsmanship in the images the LOC has online.
Title page of volume 1:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/egw/images/fig01.jpg
Leather and gilt binding designed by Wojciech Jastrzebowski and Bonawentura Lenart. 20 x 28 in.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/egw/images/fig05.jpg
Linen binding, also by Jastrzebowski and Lenart
http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/egw/images/fig15.jpg
Coat of arms of the province of Bialystok
http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/egw/images/fig10.jpg
Wroblewski Library, Wilno (Vilnius)
http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/pldec/002/0313.jpg
President of the Republic
More from this album:
Cardinal Kakowski, Archbishop of Warsaw
http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/pldec/001/0015.gif
Province of Lvov
http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/pldec/002/0111.gif
Province of Polosie
http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/pldec/002/0147.gif
Province of Tarnopol
http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/pldec/002/0237.gif
Province of Wilno (Vilnius)
What a treasure!—where to start?
The variety of styles is wonderful; I particularly like the essentially calligraphic "bookplate" of the Wroblewski library in Vilnius (which ironically isn’t Polish now). Also the abstract artwork on the various book covers. And…and…and…
Yes! A very nice find, Joe. I especially like the sienna-toned brushwork art for Wroblewski Library, Wilno (Vilnius). It just "jumped" out at me.
—Guy
A very cool find indeed. I love the emblazons and artwork throughout.
What a wonderful find! You see, this is one of the reasons I love to come back to this forum on a regular basis. We just never know what wonderful bit of heraldic expression is going to be shared with the group. Very nice piece of history, and such a wide array of styles in the emblazons. Thank you so much for sharing this Joe.
