Fascism: An Uncomfortable Catalogue

There are many avenues by which western culture speaks to our deepest emotions. Each of these ends up in print form one way or another and therefore among the wares of a bookseller. But how often do you find a collection of them, as in a catalogue, exerting the same raw tug as an individual text? Rarely: this is not the job for which catalogues were invented. There is another problem with emotion: tears are only profitable when sold wholesale, in multiple copies. Collectors don’t do tears. Which brings us to the new, ‘highly uncomfortable’ catalogue, entitled ‘Fascism’ from Mark Funke, which is concerned solely with papers and documents relating to the activities of the NSDAP, or Nazi Party. It takes us to the depths of emotion: it is that rarity.

This week, Silke Lohmann interviewed Mark Funke (virtually, of course), and discovered some of the stories behind this ‘uncomfortable’ catalogue, and how it came to be.

 

• Diversity has finally become an important subject and it's good to see that the ABAA recently started a Diversity Initiative to seek input on diversity + the sale of culturally sensitive materials. You have been part of the initiative and with your latest catalogue you have clearly addressed this by approaching one of the most controversial subjects in recent history - German Fascism. What made you decide that it was time to attempt to market this extremely controversial material?

The impetus arose from recent discussions with ABAA dealers and librarians on the topic of how to market difficult material. I made a list of their suggestions and attempted to apply them: a foreword by a third-party professional; warning notes for especially disturbing material; avoiding offensive images; etcetera.

• It is not only a difficult subject, but a hugely sensitive one. What was most important to you in getting this across to potential buyers?

I tried to present the material in a professional and respectful manner. To that extent, I am very grateful for the input of World War II historian Professor James Wald of Hampshire College. 

• We think your catalogue has been extremely well designed - what was most important to you when it came to the catalogue design?

Thank you. My wife, Joanna Funke, has her own graphic design firm. She is responsible for the excellent photography and layout. We choose a black background for an overall somber look. Offensive images (such as swastikas) are avoided. The typeface is set in FF Meta designed by Erik Spiekermann.

• You are specifically avoiding any propaganda material that glorifies the Third Reich by offering material that was not meant for a public audience. Can you tell us a little bit about how you have dealt with provenance issues?

Provenance for this material is challenging. We have multiple governments that no longer exist (Nazi Germany, then East Germany); the Allies had a right to seize documents; and we have perpetrators who tried to take objects “to their grave”. The best a bookseller can do is be upfront and straight forward about the known path of each item.

• Can you tell us a little bit about some of the items in your catalogue: CO1: Banned Books Book: What astonished you most?

This is the Stuttgart Gestapo’s working copy of Germany’s 1938 list of banned books. I am especially fascinated by items which were banned by the Nazis and that would still be banned in Germany today. Item C02 is an example. Those are “joke” books about Jews and concentration camps. Highly disturbing to us and banned by the Nazis because it informed the public about concentration camps.

• C 13: A War Criminal's Clemency: Tell us about these documents collected by the wife of an SS officer who attempted to save her husband from the death sentence.

This is Ilse Bösenberg’s archive documenting her impressive efforts to save her husband who was a war criminal sentenced to death by a British military court for murdering a Canadian pilot. We have letters, court documents, attorney’s files, clemency petitions, etcetera. Amazingly, it worked. Her husband’s sentence was commuted, and he was released after seven years.

• C 16: Compensation for victims of Nazis: A fascinating insight how West Germany dealt with compensation after the war.

This is a large collection of court cases implementing West Germany’s first post-war law to compensate victims of the Nazi regime. In essence, 315 tragic stories. For example, a court ruling on the amount of compensation to a spouse whose husband was murdered by the SS. Another example, a ruling on restitution to a Jewish attorney who emigrated to the United States and was forced to leave his business and fortune in Germany.

• C17: Personal Recollections of the Plot to kill Hitler: This is obviously an extremely important document. What surprised you most?

This is a first-hand account from one of the co-conspirators to assassinate Hitler. I learned that the July 20, 1944 plot to kill Hitler had nothing to do with socialism or a communistic ideal. The conspirators were German nationalists who despised Hitler. There is also an undertone of German nobility asserting themselves as the “proper” ruling class against a government that was ruining the country. 

• It looks like the psychiatry material sold really early on - can you share if those documents were sold to institutions + why do you think there has been such interest? What can you generally say about the buyers so far?

Yes, the psychiatry material sold very quickly – although one of the most interesting items, C10, is still available. There does not appear to be a lot of public awareness about how German National Socialism dealt with mental illness and it is clearly an area of great interest to American institutions.

 I am especially pleased that the “Psychiatrist’s Report” (C08) went home to the one institution where it truly belongs. All items that sold went to institutions (both large and tiny non-profits), except for item C01 – the Banned Books Book, and interestingly, that item received multiple orders from private collectors.

Thank you very much for reaching out with these questions.

 

You can view the Fascism catalogue via our catalogues page and read further details in our upcoming Summer issue.

Mark Funke has also written a splendid article for us: ‘Cold War Hall of Mirrors’, about East Germany’s international antiquarian book trade, will appear in The Book Collector Winter 2021. Here is a brief taste of what is to come:

‘East Germany’s international antiquarian book trade was a cold war game with spy vs. spy intrigue. Socialism and collective ownership on one side of an impenetrable border and capitalism on the other created unparalleled opportunity for economic arbitrage. This opportunity was exploited by government actors and the flow of art, antiques, and rare books from east to west resulted in a cold war tragedy.’