[Warsaw]: self-published, [ca. 1928]. Small folio (17.5 × 22.5 cm). Original pictorial self-wrappers; 4 pp. Very good.

A political caricature by an unknow artist promoting the rule of Jozef Pilsudski (1867-1935), the political leader of Poland in 1918-1922 and again as a de facto military dictator in 1926-1935. The pamphlet lampoons the political situation in Poland, making the Polish parliament look like a puppet show, with the representatives of the various parties shown clamoring and scattering rather than “governing”. The dignified figure of Marshall Pilsudski is depicted as the one bringing order. The accompanying text comments on the inability of the parliament to agree even on its own budget, with party politics rather than national interests taking center stage. “Today we can see how much a strong government can do, acting for the good of the country not embarrassed by party allegiances.” The closing lines encourage a vote for the “non-Party List no. 1” a list of “friends” of Jozef Pilsudski.

A hereditary nobleman, Pilsudski came into politics in 1880s through involvement with Narodnaia Volia, a Socialist revolutionary organization of the Russian Empire, later joining the Polish Socialist Party. In his role as the Polish head of state starting in 1918 he distanced himself from all parties, holding Polish independence and stability in the aftermath of WWI as his primary goal. With presidential role significantly limited by the parliament, and following the assassination of Poland’s first elected President, Gabriel Narutowicz, in 1922, he briefly distanced himself from politics, losing faith in the efficacy of democratic methods in Poland. He returned to political leadership of Poland through a military coup, retaining the position until his death in 1935.

As of February 2021, not in KVK, OCLC.

Book ID: 51224

Price: $350.00