Bibliography of Stefan Themerson (1910-1988)

by N.J.I. Mars

I have attempted to compile a complete bibliography of those works of Stefan Themerson that have appeared in book form. The more ambitious project of a bibliography of miscellaneous works, published in journals etc., will have to wait. For those English-language books still in print, I have provided a link to Amazon.com that allows you to order them directly.

Corrections and additions are appreciated. Please send these by E-mail to nmars@xs4all.nl.

The following list is in alphabetic order of the first significant word of the original title of Themerson’s works.

Monographs

• The adventures of Peddy Bottom

  • Editions Poetry, London,1950. Hardcover. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. 112 p.

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1954. Hardcover. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 0-85247-017-7. 112 p.

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1967. Paperback. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 0-85247-018-5.

  • Gaberbocchus Press/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 2003. Paperback. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 9061696690. 75 p. (Printer: Hooiberg, Epe.) [Printrun: 750 copies.]

  • Dutch translation: De avonturen van Aardje Stapper. Vertaling Nicolaas Matsier. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1981. Hardcover. Illustraties Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 90-234-7542-9. (BB literair.) 106 p. [Printer: Hooiberg, Epe.] [Second printrun: 1983.]

  • (see also under Collections and anthologies: Woeff woeff en ander proza. 2003)

  • French translation: Les aventures de Peddy Bottom. Traduction Jean-Marc Mandosio. Éditions Allia, Paris, 2000. ISBN 2-84485-040-5. 101 p.

  • Polish edition: Przygody Pędrka Wyrzutka. Nasza Ksiegarnia, Warszawa, 1958. [Printrun: 10000 + 253 copies.]

  •  Polish edition: Przygody Pędrka Wyrzutka. Wydawnictwo ISKRY, Warszawa, 2002. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 83-207-1710-8. Printed by Drukarnia Naukowo-Technicza, Warszawa. 99 p.

• Apollinaire’s lyrical ideograms

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1968. Paperback. ISBN 0852471017. 40 p.

• Bayamus and the theatre of semantic poetry : a novel

  • PL Editions Poetry, London, 1949. Hardcover with dustjacket. 94 p.

  • New and revised edition: Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1965. Paperback. ISBN 08-5247-058-4. 111 p. [Printer: Villiers Publications, London.]

  • Bayamus. In combined edition: Bayamus and the theatre of semantic poetry and The life of Cardinal Pölätüo with notes on his writings, his times and his contemporaries: two novels by Stefan Themerson; introduction by Keith Waldrop. Exact Change, Boston, 1997. Paperback. ISBN 1-878972-21-9.
    (This book is still in print: Order here!)

  • French translation:Bayamus. In combined edition:  Bayamus; Ouaff, ouaff ou Qui a tué Richard Wagner? Traduit par Gérard-Georges Lemaire. Christian Bourgois, Paris, 1978. Paperback. ISBN 2-26700146-2. Illustré par Franciszka Themerson. (Les derniers mots.) 176 p.

  • German translation: Bayamus und das Theater der semantischen Poesie: Roman. Ubersetzung und Nachwort von Durs Grünbein. Reclam, Leipzig, 1992. Paperback. Reclam-Bibliothek Band 1441. ISB 3-379-01441-9. [Printer: Eber, Ulm.]

  • Polish edition: Bayamus. (In combined edition; see under Generał Piesc i inne opowiadania.)

• The bone in the throat

  • Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2007. Softcover. [Themerson’s only work in dramatic form, written in 1959, and previously unpublished.]  48 p. "This edition is limited to 60 copies." Series editor: Paul Rosheim. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_bone.pdf ]

• Był gdzieś haj taki kraj / Była gdzieś taka wieś

• Stefan Themerson (napisał), Franciska Themerson (rysunki). Wydawnictwo Widnokrąg, 2013. ISBN 978-83-932984-9-5. 40 p.

• Cadaquès

  • Franciszka Themerson, drawings. Stefan Themerson, text. Introduction by Nick Wadley. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2010. Softcover. [Part of a sketchbook kept by the Themersons during a visit to Port Bou and Cadaquès, Spain, in May 1957.]  iii + 24  p. "This edition is limited to 60 copies." Series editor: Paul Rosheim. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_f_s_cadaques.pdf ]

• Cardinal Pölätüo

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1961. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 0-85247-050-9. 184 p. [Printer: Villiers Publications, London.]

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1961. Paperback. ISBN 0852470517.

  • Gaberbocchus/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1980. Paperback.

  • Cardinal Pölätüo. (In combined edition; see under Bayamus and the theatre of semantic poetry and The life of Cardinal Pölätüo.)

  • Dutch translation: Kardinaal Pölätüo : met aantekeningen over zijn werken, wedervaren en tijdgenoten. Vertaling Gust Gils en Freddy de Vree. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1967. Paperback. Inleiding Willem Frederik Hermans. (Literaire reuzenpocket; 179.) 225 p.

  • French translation: Le Cardinal Pölätüo, avec des notes sur ses écrites son temps et ses contemporains. Traduit par Michel Bernard. J.J. Pauvert, Paris, 1968. Paperback. 200 p.

  • Italian translation: Vita del cardinale Pölätüo: con note sui suoi scritti, i suoi tempi i suoi contemporanei. Translation by Francesco Saba Sardi. Rizzoli, Milano, 1969. Hardcover with dustjacket. (Narratori moderni.) 181 p.

  • Polish edition: Kardynał Pölätüo. Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków, 1971. Paperback with dustjacket. 158 p.

  • Polish edition: Kardynał Pölätüo. Wydawnictwo ISKRY, Warszawa, 2003. Hardcover with dustjacket. [Contains a translation by Andrzej Mokrzewski of Letter XI (List XI)].  ISBN 83-207-1725-6. 211 p. (Combined with General Piesc.) 

  • Polish excerpt: X list Kardynalá Pölätüo pisany do jego biografa / podal do druku Stefan Themerson [The X letter written by Cardinal Pölätüo to his biographer / sent to the press by Stefan Themerson]. Correspondance des Artes II, Łódz, 1986. Polish and English on opposite pages. Limited edition of 99 copies and 11 complimentary copies.

• Critics and my talking dog

  • Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2001. Softcover. "...previously unpublished story by Stefan Thermerson, together with drawings by Franciszka Themerson. It is believed this story was written around 1950."  40 [not numbered] p. "This edition is limited to 60 copies." Series editor: Paul Rosheim. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_critics.pdf ]

  • Polish edition: Krytycy i mój gadatliwy pies. Gaberbocchus w Polsce, 2002. Softcover. Printed in 500 numbered copies. Translated by Małgorzata Sady. Printed by S-Art, Lublin, Poland. 32 p.

• Croquis dans les ténèbres [Sketches in darkness]

  • First UK edition (in French) Distributé exclusivement par Hachette, The Continental Publishers and Distributors Ltd., London, 1944. Printed in Great Britain by F. Mildner and Sons, London. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. 36 p.  [Edition originale limitée à 500 exemplaires. Il y a été tiré à part 40 exemplaires hors commerce. ]

  • English translation: by Barbara Wright. (In combined edition; see under Collected poems.)

  • English translation: Fragments from darkness. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2001. Softcover. Translated [with minor changes] by Barbara Wright. Drawings by Franciszka Themerson. 40 [not numbered] p. "This edition is limited to 60 copies." Series editor: Paul Rosheim. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_fragments.pdf ]

• Dno nieba [On the bottom of the sky]

  • First UK edition (in Polish) Privately published. [Printer: F. Mildner and Sons, London] 1943. 35 p.

• An excerpt from a code

  • Downfield Press, [s.l.], 1965. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. (Opening unfolder; no. 5) Limited edition of 500 copies.

• Factor T

  • Factor T with Semantic Sonata. Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1956. (Black Series, 8/9) ISBN 0-85247-031-2. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. 64 p.

  • Included in combined edition: The first dozen. Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1958.

  • Revised edition, with Beliefs, tethered and untethered and The Pheromones of Fear. Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1972. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. Paperback. ISBN 0-58247-065-7. 63 p.

  • The semantic sonate. (In combined edition; see under Collected poems.)

  • Polish edition:  Faktor T. Gaberbocchus w Polsce, 2004. Softcover. Printed in 500 numbered copies. ISBN 83-920523-1-5. 55 p.

• General Piesc or the case of the forgotten mission

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1976. Paperback. ISBN 0-85247-113-0. 54 p. [Printer: Poets & Printers’ Press.]

  • Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2006. Softcover.   42 p. "This edition is limited to 60 copies." Series editor: Paul Rosheim. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_general.pdf ]

  • Dutch translation: Generaal Piesc of het geval van de vergeten missie. Vertaling Nicolaas Matsier. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1988. Paperback. Omslagontwerp Joost Swarte. Paperback. 71 p.

  • (see also under Collections and anthologies: Woeff woeff en ander proza. 2003)

  • Polish edition: Generał Piesc. In combined edition: Generał Piesc i inne opowiadania [General Piesc and other stories]. Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza Czytelnik, Warszawa, 1980. Paperback. Ilustrowała Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 83-07-00333-4. 272 p.

  • Polish edition: Generał Piesc. Wydawnictwo ISKRY, Warszawa, 2003. Hardcover with dustjacket.. ISBN 83-207-1725-6. 211 p. (Combined with Kardynał Pölätüo.)

• Hobson’s island

  • Faber and Faber, London, 1988. ISBN 0571152805. 196 p. Hardcover with dustjacket. [Printer: Richard Clay.]

  • Gaberbocchus Press/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1988. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 9061693586. 196 p. [Printer: Richard Clay.]

  • Dalkey Archive Press, Normal, IL, USA, 2005. Paperback. Preface by Barbara Wright. (British Literature Series) ISBN 1-56478-417-7. 196 p.

  • Dutch translation: Hobsons eiland : roman. Vertaling Ronald Jonkers. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1988. Paperback. ISBN 90-234-3069-7. (BB Literair.) 226 p.

  • (see also under Collections and anthologies: Woeff woeff en ander proza. 2003)

  • Polish translation: Wyspa Hobsona. Przełożyła Ewa Kraskowska. Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa, 1997. 238 p. ISBN 8306026209.

  • Spanish translation:  La isla de Hobson. Traducido por Enrique Maldonado Roldán. Prólogo Jasia Reichardt. Automática, S.L, 2012. 248 p. ISBN 978-84-15509-10-3.

• Jankel Adler, an artist seen from one of many possible angles

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1948. Hardcover with dustjacket.. Limited edition of 400 numbered and signed copies, with twelve full-page drawings by Jankel Adler. ISBN 0952470010. 31 p.

• Kurt Schwitters in England : 1940-1948

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1958. Hardcover. ISBN 085247038X. 62 p.

• Kurt Schwitters on a time chart

  • Combined English/Dutch edition: Huis Clos, Oude Tonge (NL), 1998. ISBN 9076117071. Nederlandse vertaling Marlies Temmink-Hos en Han Hos. (Huis-Clos serie; 19)

• The lay scripture or, a draft for a preface to a textbook of physics

  • Anthony Froshaug, London, 1947. 16 p. 120 copies printed.

  • (In combined edition; see under Collected poems.)

• Een leerstoel in fatsoen : Huizinga-lezing 1981

  • In English and Dutch: Athenaeum—Polak en Van Gennep, Amsterdam, 1982. Paperback. ISBN 9025381257. Vertaling Nicolaas Matsier. 59 p.

  • In English: The Chair of Decency. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2007. Softcover.  ii, 31  p. "This edition is limited to 60 copies." Series editor: Paul Rosheim. With an introduction by Jasia Reichardt. [PDF vesion online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_chair.pdf ]

  • (see also under Collections and anthologies: Woeff woeff en ander proza. 2003)

  • Polish translation: Katedra przyzwoitości. Pánstwowa Wyższa Szkola Sztuk Plastycznych, Łódz, 1985. Tlumaczenie Anna i Piotr Bikont.

  • Polish translation: Katedra przyzwoitości. Oficyna BibliofilóMuzeum Książki Artystycznei, 6 maja 1994. Softcover in illustrated folded dustjacket. Translation Anna i Piotr Bikont. [Printer: Correspondance des Arts IV.]  28 p.

• Logic, labels, and flesh

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1974. ISBN 0-85247-106-8 (paperback), 0-85247-107-6 (hardcover). 203 p. [Printer Lowe & Brydonc.]

  • Dutch translation: Logica, etiketten en vlees. Vertaling Nicolaas Matsier. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1979. Paperback. ISBN 90-234-1521-3. (Leven en letteren.) 228 p.

  • German translation of Chapter 7: The anatomy of laughter. Michael Schulz: Vergrösserte Kleinigkeiten. Eine neue Charakterologie. Mit einer Anatomie des Lachens von Stefan Themerson. Deutsch von Wulf Teichmann. Matthes und Seitz Verlag, München, 1978. Paperback. ISBN 3-88221-011-7. 255 p.

• Mr. Rouse builds his house (with Barbara Wright)

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1950. Hardcover. Drawings by Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 0852470045. 143 p. [Printer: Rollprint.]

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1955. Second edition. Hardcover. ISBN 0852470053. 143 p. [Printer: Farrier Press, London.]

  • AV Carlsons Bokförlags AB, Stockhol, 1953. Paperback. 144 p. Drawings by Franciszka Themerson. “This amusing little book is for Swedish schools—to be used in the second or third year together with your ordinary text book.” [Contains separately: Engelsk-Svensk Ordlist av Nina Spångberg.]

  • Tate Publishing, London, 2013. Hardcover. Drawings by Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 9781849761543. 144 p.

  • US edition: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, New York, 1951. 118 p. [Printed in USA.]

  • Dutch translation: Meneer Bruis bouwt zijn huis. Vertaling Nicolaas Matsier. Tekeningen Franciszka Themerson. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1983. Hardcover. ISBN 9023475445. (BB literair.) 144 p. [Printer: Hooiberg, Ede.]

  • Polish edition: Pan Tom buduje dom. Mathesis Polska, Warszawa, 1938. Rysunki Franciszki Themerson. 81 p.

  • Polish edition: Pan Tom buduje dom. Ikar publications, London, 1943.

  • Polish edition: Pan Tom buduje dom. Czytelnik, Warszawa, 1947. Hardcover. 128 p.

  • Polish edition: Pan Tom buduje dom. Nasza Ksiegarnia, 1957. [Paperback reprint of the preceding edition.] [Naklad 50,000 + 205 egz.]

  • Polish edition: Pan Tom buduje dom. Ilustrowała Franciszka Themerson. Instytut Wydawniczy „Nasza księgarnia”, Warszawa, 1960. Paperback. [Naklad 70.000 + 260 egz.]

  • Polish edition: Pan Tom buduje dom. Ilustrowała Franciszka Themerson. Bajki-Grajki, Omedia, Warszawa, 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 978-83-89594-57-0. 151 p.

• The mystery of the sardine

  • The mystery of the sardine. Faber and Faber, London, 1986. ISBN 0571137407 (hardcover with dustjacket), 0571147062 (paperback). 194 p.

  • Gaberbocchus Press/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1986. Hardcover. ISBN 9061692903. 194 p.

  • Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 1986. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 0374218021.

  • Dalkey Archive Press, Normal, IL, USA, 2006. Paperback. (British Literature Series)  ISBN 156478455X. 194 p.

  • Dutch translation: Euclides was een ezel : roman. Vertaling Carol Limonard. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1986. Paperback. ISBN 9023409086. (BB Literair.) 301 p.

  • Polish translation: Euklides był osŀem. Przełożła Irena Szymańska. Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa, 1989. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 83-06-01781-1. 207 p. [Printrun: 20000 + 350 copies.]

  • Spanish translation: El misterio de la sardina. Traducción de Lluís Company. Martínez Roca, D.L., Barcelona, 1989. Paperback. (Colección Narrativa contemporánea.) ISBN 8427012799. 263 p.

  • Turkish translation: Sardalyanin Gizemi. Translated by Özde Duygu Gürka. Gizem. Metis Yayincilik, 2019. ISBN 9786053161677.

• Postzta

  • Polish edition: Postza. Hardcover.Widnokrag, 2014, ISBN 9788393865222

• Przygody Marcelianka Majster-Klepki

  • Polish edition: Przygody Marcelianka Majster-Klepki . Hardcover. Illustrated by Franciszka Themerson. Widnokrag, 2017. ISBN 9788394497170.

• Professor Mmaa’s lecture

  • First UK edition: with a preface by Bertrand Russell. Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1953. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 0852470169. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. 251 p. [Printer: Mears & Caldwell.]

  • First US edition: The Overlook Press, Woodstock, New York, 1975. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 0879510293.

  • Tusk/The Overlook Press, Woodstock, New York, 1984. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. Paperback. ISBN 0879519665.

  • German translation: Professor Mmaa’s Vorlesung: Phantast. Roman. Mit einem Vorwort von Bertrand Russell und Ill. von Franciszka Themerson. Ubersetzung Wulf Teichmann. Rogner und Bernhard, München, 1969. Hardcover with dustjacket.

  • German translation: Deutscher Taschenbuch-Verlag, München, 1972. Paperback. ISBN 3423008504. (DTV; 850) 270 p.

  • Polish edition: Wykład profesora Mmaa. Państwowa Instytut Wydawnicszy, Warszawa, 1958. Hardcover. Ilustracje Franciszki Themerson. Przedmowa Bertranda Russella. 416 p. [Printrun: 5000 + 253 copies.]

  • Polish edition: Wykład profesora Mmaa. Wydawnictwo Krąg, Warszawa; Wydawnictwo CiS, Warszawa, 1994. Hardcover. Ilustracje Franciszki Themerson. Przedmowa Bertranda Russella. ISBN 83-85199-28-4, 83-85458-05-0. 279 p. (Biblioteka Polska XX wieku.) 282 p.

  • Polish edition: Wykład profesora Mmaa. Wydawnictwo ISKRY, Warszawa, 2003. Hardcover. Ilustracje Franciszki Themerson. Przedmowa Bertranda Russella. ISBN 83-207-1715-9. 293 p.

  • Polish edition: Wykład profesora Mmaa. Grupa Wydawnicza Foksal, Warszawa, 2013. Hardcover. Ilustracje Franciszka Themerson. Z przedmową Bertranda Russella. ISBN 978-83-7747-834-9. 350 p.

• Semantic divertissements

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1962. Paperback. ISBN 085247055X. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. 16 p.

• On semantic poetry

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1975. ISBN 0852471092 (paperback), 0852471106 (hardcover with dustjacket). Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. 127 p.

• Special branch (a dialogue)

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1972. Paperback. ISBN 0852471033. 94 p. [Printer: Lowe & Brydonc, London.]

  • Reprinted (with a postscript): Gaberbocchus Press/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1988. Cover Joost Swarte. Paperback. ISBN 0852471033 (Gaberbocchus), 9061693284 (De Harmonie). 96 p. [Printer: Hooiberg, Ede. Printrun: 1998: 2000 copies.]

  • Dutch translation: De hoofdinspecteur en de ultra-intelligente machine: een dialoog. Vertaling Willem de Ruiter. Omslagontwerp Joost Swarte. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1988. Paperback. ISBN 9023430182. (BB Literair.) 94 p.

  • German translation: Die ultraintelligente Maschine: ein Dialog. Ubersetzung Wulf Teichmann. S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main, 1997. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 3-10-080014-1.

• St Francis and the wolf of Gubbio or, Brother Francis’ lamb chops; an opera in 2 acts.

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London and De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1972. Paperback. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 0852471041. 111 p.

  • Luxury edition: Same. 50 signed copies in bound edition with original drawing by Franciszka Themerson.

• The table that ran away to the woods.

  • Tate Publishing, London. 2012. Hardcover with dustjacket. With a note by Nick Wadley. ISBN 9781849760577. 20 p.

• Tom Harris

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1967. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 0852470606. 349 p.

  • De Harmonie (Gaberbocchus), Amsterdam, 1980. Paperback.

  • A.A. Knopf, New York, NY, USA, 1968. Hardcover with dustjacket. 291 p. [Printer: H. Wolff Book Manufacturing, New York, NY.]

  • Dalkey Archive Press, Normal, IL, USA, 2004. Paperback. Introduction by Nicholas Wadley. (British Literature Series) ISBN 1-56478-371-5. 293 p.

  • Dutch translation: Tom Harris. Vertaling Gust Gils en Freddy de Vree. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1970. Paperback. ISBN 90-234-0342-8. (Literaire reuzenpocket; 342.) 296 p.

  • Polish translation: Tom Harris. Przeklad Ewa Krasinska. Czytelnik, Warszawa, 1975. 329 p. Paperback with dustjacket. [Printrun: 10.290 copies.]

  • Polish translation: Tom Harris. Przeklad Ewa Krasinska. Czytelnik, Warszawa, 1979. Paperback with dustjacket. 329 p. [Printrun: 30.290 copies.]

• The urge to create visions

  • Gaberbocchus Press/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1983. Paperback. ISBN 9061692016. 95 p. [Printer: Hooiberg, Ede. Printrun: 3000 copies.]

  • Polish translation: O potrzebie tworzenia widzeń. Przekład Małgorzata Sady. Centrum Sztuki Współczesnej Zamek Ujazdowski, Warszawa, 2008. ISBN 978-83-61156-60-4. 96 p. [Printrun: 1000 copies.]  

• Why is there something rather than nothing?

  • Turret Bookshop, London, 1992. 1 page.

  • (In combined edition; see under Collected poems.)

• Wooff wooff or who killed Richard Wagner?

  • Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1951. Hardcover. Illustrations Franciszka Themerson. ISBN 0852470061. 65 p. [Printer: Martin & Son (The Harewood Press), London.]

  • Reprint: Gaberbocchus Press, London, 1967. Paperback. ISBN 085247007X.

  • Dutch translation: Woeff woeff of wie vermoordde Richard Wagner? Vertaling Nicolaas Matsier. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 1980. Paperback. ISBN 9023407253. (BB Literair.) 46 p. [Printer: Hooiberg, Ede.]

  • (see also under Collections and anthologies: Woeff woeff en ander proza. 2003)

  • French translation: Ouaff, ouaff ou qui a tué Richard Wagner? (In combined edition; see under Bayamus)

  • French translation: Ouah! Ouah! ou qui a tué Richard Wagner? Traduction Jean-Marc Mandosio. Éditions Allia, Paris, 2000. ISBN 2-84485-041-3. 63 p. p.

  • German translation: Wuff wuff oder wer ermorderte Richard Wagner? Ubersetzung Wulf Teichmann. Affholderbach und Strohmann, Siegen, 1987. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISB 3-922524-39-7.

  • Italian translation: Arf arf o Chi ha ucciso Riccardo Wagner? Translation Francesco Delmastro. Introduzione Guido Almansi. Franco Maria Ricci, Milano, 1974. Paperback. (La biblioteca blu.) 60 p. [Printrun: 3000 numbered copies.]

  • Polish edition: Hau! Hau! czyli kto zabił Ryszarda Wagnera? (In combined edition; see under Generał Piesc i inne opowiadania.)

  • Polish edition: Hau! Hau! czyli kto zabił Ryszarda Wagnera? Gaberbocchus w Polsce, 2004. ISBN 83-900523-0-7 [wrongly printed as 83-920388-0-0].53 p.

  • Swedish translation: Vov, vov eller Vem dödare Richard Wagner? översatt av Görgen Antonsson. Rabalder, Borås, 1981. ISBN 9185950041. 44 p.

  • Swedish translation: Amalgam, Borås; Bakhåll, Lund, 1987. Paperback. ISBN 9185950521. (Amalgam; 8.) 48 p.

Translations

• The eagle and the fox. The fox and the eagle.

  •  [Halfitle:] Æsop.Two semantically symmetrical versions followed by a revised application. Gaberbocchus Press, London, April 1949. Hardcover. Drawings by Franciszka Themerson. After the translation by Dr. Samuel Croxall MDCCXXII. 34 p. "This edition, which has been printed on a hand press by Gaberbocchus Press London is limited to 400 numbered copies, each bearing the original signature of the artist and the counterfeit signature of Æsop."

• Europa

  • A poem by Anatol Stern. Gaberbocchus Press, 1962. Softcover. Illustrations and layout by Miesczisław Szczuka. Cover design by Teresa Zarnower. Reproduced form the original Polish edition of 1929. Translated by S.T. [Stefan Themerson] and M.H. [Michael Horovitz] with a new introduction by Michael Horovitz and photographs from the film Europa made in 1930 by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson. Preface by Oswell Blaketon. 32 [not numbered] p.

Collections and anthologies

• In English

  • Collected poems
    First UK edition: Gaberbocchus Press/De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 1997. With drawings by Franciszka Themerson. Paperback. ISBN 9061693977. 171 p. [Printrun: January 1998: 500 copies; July 1998: 500 copies.]
    Other edition: Overlook Press, Woodstock, New York, 1998. ISBN 0879518464.
    (This book is still in print: Order here!)

  • Six short texts. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI 54615, USA, 2004. Paperback. Limited to 60 copies. Series editor: Paul Rosheim. 30 p. [Contains: The aim of aims; Man's superiority to the beasts; Castor and Pollux; He was 47 or 48; Sketches from a polite hell; The quantitative method of measuring the right of any individual to influence European civilization; Notes.] [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_six.pdf ]

  • The finishing school and Chapter 18. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI, USA, 2005. Paperback. Limited to 60 copies. Series editor: Paul Rosheim. 35 p. [Contains:  The Finishing School or Who From Whom?; Translations; The Bone in the Throat; Chapter 18; Notes] [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_finishing.pdf ]

  • Selected Prose. Annotated by Nicolaas J.I. Mars. Expressis Verbis, Marum, The Netherlands, 2008. ISBN 978-90-70648-03-9. Paperback. x + 636 p. [Contains: Bayamus; Wooff Wooff; Prof. Mmaa; factor T; Cardinal Pölätüo; Special Branch; General Piesc; all with extensive annotations.]  (This book is no longer available, as it has been superseded by the Centennial Edition.) (On-line list of errata; no longer maintained.)

  • Stefan Themerson Selected Prose. Centennial Edition. Annotated by Nicolaas J.I. Mars. Expressis Verbis, Marum, The Netherlands, 2010. ISBN 978-90-70648-05-3. Paperback. x + 793 p. [Contains: Bayamus; Wooff Wooff; Prof. Mmaa; factor T; Cardinal Pölätüo; Special Branch; Logic, Labels, and Flesh; General Piesc, all with extensive annotations. Available through amazon.com at $ 45 plus package and handling.] (On-line list of errata.) 

  • Unposted Letters : correspondence, diaries, drawings, documents 1940-1942 : Franciszka Themerson & Stefan Themerson. Edited by Jasia Reichardt. With a coda by Nick Wadley. Gaberbocchus & De Harmonie, Amsterdam, 2013. ISBN 9789076168760. 408 p.

  • A Few Letters from the 1950s: Selected Correspondence with Lars Gustav Hellström and Bertrand Russell. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI 54615, USA, 2009. Paperback. Limited to 60 copies. Series editor: Paul Rosheim. 46 p. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_few.pdf ]

  • Geometry of Satire and Non Sequitur. Obscure Publications, Black River Falls, WI 54615, USA, 2009. Paperback. Limited to 60 copies. Series editor: Paul Rosheim. 34 p. [PDF version online at http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/obscure/PDFs/themerson_s_geometry.pdf ]

• In Dutch

  • Woeff Woeff en ander proza. Vertaald door Ronald Jonkers, Nicolaas Matsier en Hans Kloos. Keuze en samenstelling Nicolaas Matsier en K. Michel. Met een voorwoord van Nicolaas Matsier. De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam, 2003. ISBN 90 234 1092 0. 572 p. Hardcover. Illustrations by Franciszka Themerson. [Contains Dutch translations of: General Piesc, Hobson's island; A chair in decency; Wooff wooff or who killed Richard Wagner; The adventures of Peddy Bottom; as well as other material about Stefan Themerson.]

• In Polish

  • Jestem czasownikiem czyli zobaczyć świat inaczej. Dom Kultury w Płocku; Klub Artystyczny Płocczan, Płock, 1993. Rysunki Franciszka Themerson.

  • Wiersze wybrane 1939-1945. [Selected poems 1939-1945] Przedmowa, wybór i opracowanie [Preface, selection and editing] Jasia Reichardt. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego, Katowice, 2003.ISBN 83-226-1280-X. Softcover. 182 p. [Printrun: 350 copies.]

I am working on a bibliography of information about Stefan Themerson and the Gaberbocchus Press. This work is still in a very early stage.

Created 1999-02-20. Last review 2020-09-01.
© N.J.I. Mars 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.