La Edad De Oro

This is a near fine hardcover copy in white glazed boards printed in black, with a colorful oval image of Jose Marti on the front cover. Completely clean inside and out. Text in Spanish. This book reunites the four children's books that Jose Marti (1853-1895) wrote while he was in New York during the 1880's. According to Marti, the intention behind the publication of "La edad de oro" was "so that American children may know how people used to live, and how they live nowadays, in America and in other countries; how many things are made, such as glass and iron, steam engines and suspension bridges and electric light; so that when a child sees a coloured stone he will know why the stone is coloured. We shall tell them about everything which is done in factories, where things happen which are stranger and more interesting than the magic in fairy stories. These things are real magic, more marvelous than any. We write for children because it is they who know how to love, because it is children who are the hope for the world". This edition is illustrated in color by Lorenzo Amengual in a style that recalls Push Pin Studios of the 1960's and 70's. Hot colors like pinks, magentas, blues and yellows overlay old engravings, sometimes portraits of Marti's three heroes: Simon Bolivar, San Martin and Hidalgo. The illustrations look like silkscreens and were printed by Miguel Pilato, Buenos Aires. 10" high X 7" wide, 114 pages.