Magyar Földrajzi Társaság Könyvtára sorozat (The Library of the Hungarian Geographical Society series)

Magyar Földrajzi Társaság Könyvtára (MFTK)

(The Library of the Hungarian Geographical Society)

The Hungarian Geographical Society was founded in 1871, like many similar learned societies around Europe at the time to promote the science of geography. Membership and interest grew, mainly due to the work of Lajos Lóczy, an oriental geographer who is credited with the establishment of modern geography in Hungary, and who became President in 1890. In 1902 Lóczy launched the Magyar Földrajzi Társaság Könyvtára (Library of the Hungarian Geographical Society Library) series, intended to be a popular series publishing the most relevant foreign geographical and travel books in Hungarian, as well as similar works of Hungarian authors. The first book in the series was Sven Hedin's 'Accross the Deserts of Asia', followed by Lóczy's own book on the history of China.

Lóczy Lajos, 1849-1920

Lóczy remained editor of the series untill 1912, during which 11 titles were published (including two double volumes). From 1913 the post of series editor (and society President) was taken over by Jenõ Cholnoky, also an oriental geographer and a student of Lóczy, who was already society secretary for some time. (Cholnoky is probably the best known Hungarian geographer, incidentally he was the last Hungarian to have made it a fellow of the RGS before myself). Cholnoky published a further 52 titles in various editions, making the series one of the biggest success stories in Hungarian publishing. Unfortunately from 1943 onwards material shortages and restrictions made further publishing impossible. The last few titles and editions published in 1943 are the rarest in the entire series (one of them Cholnoky's "The Desert", a treatise on the deserts of the world).

Cholnoky Jenõ, 1870-1950

For book collectors the series is a complete mess. The books were made with three major cover types, each with several sub-types. Most titles are available in several cover variations, and the lack of a publication date in most of them makes the identification of second and subsequent editions very difficult. To add confusion, Cholnoky out of respect towards Lóczy (who died in 1920) retained his name as series editor for the second and subsequent editions of the first 13 titles (but on the half title of some but not all, Cholnoky appears as editor).

There is similar confusion with the publisher. From 1902 to 1931 the series were published by Lampel Róbert könyvkereskedése (Wodianer F. & fiai) Rt, one of the most respectable old Hungarian publishing houses (Lampel Róbert died in 1876, and his widow sold the business to Wodianer Fülöp, who retained the original name of the company.) Sometime at the turn of the century (conflicting dates given by sources) Wodianer Alfréd (son of Fülöp) accepted the offer of the great rival, Franklin Társulat Rt. to buy out the company as a settlement in a long dragging lawsuit. From that point Frankin owned Lampel, but maintained it as a separate company (with Wodianer Alfréd gaining a seat in the Board of Franklin), and continued to publish books under the Lampel publisher mark.

The earliest titles edited by Lóczi were printed and bound apparently before the Lampel - Franklin merger happened. The publisher's mark carries the "Cs. és kir. udvari könyvkereskedés" ("Purveyors of books to the Imperial and Royal courts") title which Lampel acquired in 1882, and proudly displayed in their publications, but which was apparently discontinued after the merger (possibly because Franklin did not have the rights to the title). There is no reference to the printing press on the rear of the title page (on all later titles it is the Franklin Press), and the binding was done by Gottermayer Nándor, the highest quality bookbinding craftsman of Budapest at the times, producing some of the finest artworks of Hungarian publishing history.

A rare early Lampel publisher mark on title page, with
the "Cs. és Kir." (Imperial & Royal) purveyor title.

The binders mark of Gottermayer Nándor on the rear cover
from an early Lampel title

Apparently sometime in the first decade of the twentieth century (exact date not yet established, will need to review more early edition examples) Franklin completely took over the production of the series, from thereon all titles were printed and bound by Franklin Press, and even the copyright mark in some of them is by Franklin.

The usual publisher mark of Lampel on the title page
of an early edition

A rare dated Lampel publisher mark on title page,
with copyright notice of Franklin (interestingly in English!)
on the reverse of the title page

Printers mark on the reverse of the title page
and binders mark on the rear cover,
both from an early Lampel title

To further complicate matters, Franklin started a series in 1918 called "The Library of Modern Travelers and Explorers". Except for the series title, the covers of these volumes are identical to the Classical cover (see below) of the MFTK series, with the same crimson cloth binding, gilt globe and decoration with blue infill. There are some erratics where a 'Modern Travelers...' title received a proper MFTK series cover, however inside the series title is missing. In all, 14 such titles were produced between 1919 and 1931, it is unclear at the moment what were the reasons behind this 'shadow' series and who was the series editor (for full details, see below).

Around 1931 it appears that Franklin completely merged with Lampel (probably due to economic pressures of the Great Depression), and from thereon all the series titles are published under the Franklin name.

The publisher mark of Franklin, which almost invariably
appears without date (in all titles from 1931 to 1943)

Unfortunately all the records of Franklin were destroyed when the building housing their offices received a direct hit during the siege of Budapest on the 1st January, 1945. A Hungarian book enthusiast, Walter Dévay spent several years trying to piece together the puzzle, identifying the various editions and binding variations, and establishing which book appeared in which bindings. I am greatly indebted to Walter and his website for inspiration and a large part of the detailed information needed to put together this page.

From the very beginning, the series had the familiar "Classic" crimson cloth covers with impressed gilt decoration and the globe. However thie classic cover underwent a significant evolution, from the very elaborately decorated early versions imprinted with three colours in addition to gold, to the cloth and cardboard covers of the late thirties with only the impressed gilt decoration but no additional colours.

The first 18 titles (including the first two appearing after WWI in 1922 & 1923) also appeared in a very attractive binding with a colour title print glued to the cover, and the spine sporting not the traditional decoration, but one with a gilt atlas supporting the globe, the symbol of the Society. These are the most collectible versions. On close scrutiny it is evident that there are three variants: one where the title print is glued to full cloth boards, one where the title print is glued to a printed cardboard cover, and the third where the cover picture is impressed into the cloth boards.

Looking at the various cover versions of the same titles, on close scrutiny it becomes evident that some are 100% identical, some are markedly different in terms of layout and pagination, yet others have only minor differences in the layout of the title and number of illustrations.

Placing the various cover variants and editions in a chronological order, some patterns may be observed:

Classic I cover with Roman numerals on spine (1902-1911)

Only the first 11 titles published under the editorship of Lóczy appeared in this binding, and circumstantial evidence points to all these being true first editions. These have a three colour infill to the gilt cover: blue in the globe, green and white in the voids of the decoration. The green and white infill also appear on the gilt decoration of the lower spine. The cover includes a line referring to the series editor (Lóczy) under the series title, and a publisher line at the very bottom. All three-colour imprint variants are referred to as 'Classic I'. For this variant, the cloth base is not uniform crimson but has a scaled and squared pattern, and there are Roman numeral volume numbers on the spine of each volume, repeated on the half title inside. The double volumes have separate numbers on the spine and half title. There appears to be some confusion in the numbering, as the last title to appear (#11 Hedin, 1910) carries the volume number XIII-XIV despite being a single volume. In the editor's preface Lóczy (also announcing the passing of the editorship to Cholnoky) refers to 12 intended volumes in the first series, however this cannot be correct, as there were 11 titles in 13 volumes. Some of the titles carry the "Cs. és Kir. könyvkereskedés" (Imperial and Royal booksellers) line in the publishers mark, indicating that they were certainly printed in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (Lampel acquired the title in 1888). Some others do not carry this line, however the workmanship of all these volumes suggest an early XXth century date. All such volumes I have seen carry a publication year, but at present it is unclear whether all in fact do.



Classic I. Roman numeral binding examples, with their half titles also containing the series volume number.

Enddpaper of the
Classic I. Roman
numeral binding

Classic I cover with scaled pattern (1912-1914?)

This cover variant differs from the previous in the lack of the roman numerals on the spine, and the roman volume number is also missing from the half title. It has the same scaled pattern print on cloth binding. All the 11 titles that have appeared with roman numerals exist in this cover version, plus two titles that have been edited by Cholnoky, released in 1913. There is circumstancial evidence that all pre-1913 titles in this binding are re-issues, starting from 1910 onwards (see #9 Waddell). The interior save for the half title is identical for most titles, but for a few there are some subtle changes and re-pagination (eg. #9 Stein), at present we do not known whether identical copies were from the same first print run, released in different bindings, or there were reprints of the early editions. In any case, it seems that all these versions were released in the period 1910-14, while Cholnoky was editor, who for some reason decided to eliminate the roman volume number from the spine. At present I am not aware of any copies that have the "Cs. és Kir. Könyvkereskedés" title in the publisher's mark. The last two titles carry Cholnoky as series editor both on the cover and on the half title. All examples I have been able to observe have the same endpapers, confirming that all must have been produced within a relatively short time.

Closeup of the base pattern of the cloth boards,
similar for all 1902-1913 Classic I. binding variants

Enddpaper of the
Classic I. scaled
pattern binding

Classic I cover (plain) (1915?-1926)

It appears that after 1914 the scaled pattern cloth was discontinued, and the Classic I. cover continued until 1926 on plain crimson cloth boards. One 1915 title exists in this cover variant, but at present it is unclear if it is a true pre-war edition (if so, the only such known), or it was produced after 1919 when several other early titles were re-issued in this binding together with four new titles. There are two variants readily distinguishable. The first is identical in every way except the cloth pattern with the previous 'scaled' versions, however the second one, apparently produced around 1926 lacks the white and green decoration from the spine. The interiors of those titles which also existed in the Classic I scaled versions appear to be completely identical, they appear to be either the same print run, or simple reprints with no editorial change.


Plain Classic I. binding examples, note subtle differences between the two variants.


Early Classic I. endpaper examples (both from post-war titles)		Classic I. (~1926) endpaper, all known examples are similar.

Picture cover (190?-1923)

In terms of idendifying any definite publishing period, this is the most problematic cover variant, and seems to have ran parallel to the Classic I. versions, with the exception of the last two 1926 titles. There are some picture on cloth examples which match the interior of the Roman numeral versions, with the the roman volume number on the half-title, and identical in every other way (down to the "Cs. és Kir." title on some). It is not clear if they were published simultaneously, or perhaps a few years apart, however on account of the identical interiors these may be treated as true first editions.


Cover and half title of an early Picture Cover binding, note "Cs. és Kir. udv." royal purveyors title on spine.

The picture on cloth without roman numerals examples I was able to compare match in every detail (including the colour and pattern of endpapers) the interior of the Classic I scale patterned ones, there is strong evidence that they are contemporary.


A picture on cloth boards variety, the interior is identical in every way (including endpapers) to the Classic I. scaled binding version.

Three titles appeared with a picture cover that had a cloth impressed picture rather than the more common glued colour print. All of them date 1910-1915, and they have certainly appeared as such in first edition. One is also known with the same cover, but impressed onto paper covered boards, almost certainly a post-war re-issue.


The three impressed picture titles, all released 1910-13.

The cardboard varieties appear to be identical to the plain Classic I. editions, and are almost certainly post-war, the last two titles only ever appeared in this version. It appears that all the first sixteen titles were released in both Picture and classic I. cover versions apparently simultaneously after 1919.


Picture on paper boards variety examples, the last a 1922 title. The three are identical in every detail (including exact colour tones, endpapers, etc.), are without doubt contemporary. The interiors are identical to the corresponding Classic I. binding versions (but endpapers are not).

It appears (though I have been unable to fully confirm) that all titles existed with picture cover binding as first edition, with roman numeral series volume on the half-title, and identical in every other way to the Classic I. roman numeral binding versions. A second edition of all these titles were apparently released between 1910-1913, parallel to the introcuction of the Classic 1. scaled binding. I had access to very few copies that I could compare, it appears that in some cases the change was only the elimination of the roman series volume number from the half title, in other cases there was a significant repagination. Apparently all of the early titles have been re-issued in the early twenties, with the cover picture on printed cardboard binding version, parallel to the Classic I plain binding variety. However while all titles seem to have appeared with picture cover, not all are known with the plain Classic I binding. It is not yet clear whether these post war releases were a completely new edition (as in the few cases I have been able to compare), or some were identical to the pre-war second editions. However it does appear that most of the early Lóczy titles had three distinct editions, with he Classic I. cover variants clearly distinguishable, but the Picture cover variants in most cases only identifiable by comparint the interior to the Clasic I. variants.

Up till here, the first 13 titles all carry Lóczy (who died in 1920) as series editor both on the cover and the title page (plus one erratic, where Lóczy appears on the cover of a Cholnoky edited title). There is no record whether the identical interiors were of the original print run, only the binding changing with time, or there were subsequent print runs. In the trade and on auctions all the above Classic I. and Picture Cover binding variants are treated as first editions (despite some obviously not), with the 'Picture cover' versions commanding the highest prices, irrespective of their details.

Classic II. cover (1926-1928)

From 1926 onwards, a new Classic cover variant appears, differing from the first only in the colour infill. The same blue of the globe replaces green in the pattern on the cover, white ommitted, and there is no infill at all on the spine. Apparently it was released alongside the Classic I. cover for the two new 1926 titles (together with an Oval logo variant, see below), at the same time when the picture cover was discontinued. From 1927 the Classic I. cover was also discontinued, in 1927-1928 the single new and numerous re-editions appeared with this cover (simultaneously also with Oval logo binding, see below).


The three new 1926-27 titles in the Classic II. binding.


Standard Classic II. endpaper, appearing in most known examples.	Few Classic II. titles had endpapers very similar to the Classic I. (~1926) variety.

This change coincided with a major change in the interior editorial layout. Up till this time (including all 1926-27 titles) the interior was printed on a fine coated paper, with illustrations appearing among text as well as on separate plates. After 1927 the text was printed on a much coarser paper, and all illustrations were moved to separate coated paper plates. This change affected the 1926 & 27 new titles, they appeared as second aditions in the same cover, but much thicker due to the coarser paper. Several of the early titles were released with this changed layout as second or third editions.


Classic II. titles in both first and second editions, note difference in thickness (2nd edition thicker).

Two early titles originally edited by Lóczy were released in the new editorial layout as third editions with Classic II. bindings. These had the name of Lóczy appearing as series editor on the cover, but on the half title Cholnoky was listed as series editor.


3rd Edition of an early title with Classic II. binding (note Lóczy as editor on cover, Cholnoky on half title).

Oval logo cover (1926-1932)

Almost all of the Classic II. titles also appeared apparently simultaneously in a plain crimson cloth cover variety, with just the author/title on the spine and cover, plus a small oval logo of the Society and a line referring to the publisher (Lampel) on the cover. Possibly all Classic II. cover titles have an Oval logo pair, but as the oval logo variants are much more scarce, some may not have been noted.



Pre-1929 Oval logo binding examples with their endpapers. The earlier resembles those of the late Picture cover varieties, while the latter is essentially the same as the commonest Classic II. endpaper.

The Classic II. binding seems to have been replaced by the Classic III. from 1929 (starting with Almásy's first book, see below), however the oval logo cover continued till 1932. After 1929 the publisher line was removed, and the last 1931 and the 1932 titles have Franklin as publisher in the interior. All of the new titles of the 1930-32 period have appeared with the oval logo cover without the publisher line, but interestingly none of the numerous re-editions of earlier titles (or at least, none are known). The endpapers of all Oval logo bindings from 1929 onwards are plain undecorated purple, same as those in the Classic III. binding.


Almásy's first book to appear in the series in 1929, with Oval logo binding and plain endpapers.


An 1931 Oval logo title, with no publisher reference on cover, and Franklin appearing as publisher on the title page.

Classic III. cover (1929-1936)

All the titles published between 1928 and 1934 exist in the "Classic III." binding, which is the same as Classic II. minus the series editor line on the top, and the publisher reference at the bottom. There is strong circumstancial evidence that the 1927-28 titles are post 1928 re-issues or reprints after the classic II. variant was discontinued. The titles issued before mid-1931 have Lampel listed as publisher, any such that have Franklin as publisher must be treated as post-1931 second edition. It appears that the Oval logo cover co-existed with this binding variety till 1932.


A selection of titles with the Classic III. binding.

The plain enddpaper of
the Classic III. binding,
continuing with all
further Classic variants
till the end of the series.

It appears that several of the twenties and early thirties titles were re-released in multiple editions, all with the Classic III. cover. Distinguishing these can be compared to the 'spot the difference' game, Almásy's 'Autóval Szudánba' is a perfect example. The title was frst published in 1929, and the title page contains reference to 63 illustrations and one map (attached to rear endpapers). This version is known both with the 'Oval logo' and 'Classic III' covers. There is a Classic III covered version that only contains the 63 illustratons, but no map (and the reference to the map is absent from the title page, proving that it is not simply a case of the map having become lost). There is yet a third version, also with Classic III covers, where there are only 62 illustrations, and four of the photos are different from the 63 photo version (the text and pagination is identical, with the exception of the list of illustrations). All known examples of these varieties have Lampel as publisher, so all must have appeared in the short 1929-1931 period, a surprisingly short time for three different editions. Such subtle variations may be noted with other titles too, and possibly many are yet unnoticed as these remained unrecognised in the trade. At present there is no reliable information to ascertain which came first, it can only be suspected that the ones complete with map are first editions. Possibly these variations are due to economic pressures forced by the great depression, with batches of text already printed, but lacking maps or photos?



Title pages of three seperate editions of Agostini and Almásy, all appearing in the 1929-31 period, with only differences in presence or lack of map supplement, and slight variation in number of illustrations.

Some of the 1930-32 titles have two versions, with a thinner or thicker gilt decoration. In some instances this difference may be linked to variations in interior content (as above), in other cases the interiors are completely identical. There are also a few instances of variations in title spelling on the cover (but never on the title page inside).


Note difference in thickness of decoration.		Note difference in thickness of gilt decoration and difference in title spelling on spine.

All the 10 volume 1934 new series appeared with this binding version, apparently alongside the Classic IV. version. While the pre-1934 titles are very common, the majority of the 1934 issues seem to have been of the Classic IV. variety, as 1934 Classic III. copies are quite scarce.

Classic IV. cover (1934-1943)

From 1934 onwards, all titles have appeared in this cover, which lacks the blue colour infill, only retains the gilt decoration. For the ten volume 1934 series, it appears to have co-existed with the Classic III. variant, as attested by a set of 1934 owner entries in such copies. Up till 1940 all titles appeared on the usual crimson cloth bound boards, making this version the commonest of all binding varieties.


A selection of titles with the Classic IV. full cloth binding.

From 1937 onwards a half-cloth version appeared, with crimson coloured plain cardboard covers. The last titles from 1940 onwards have only appeared with the cardboard cover variant. In the period 1937-1939 the two variants seem to have co-existed, with only two exceptions all titles have both versions. Perhaps they were intended as cheaper and more expensive variants (there is some evidence that in this period it was also possible to buy the books in a simple paper cover, to be bound at the owner's discretion). The few cardboard cover variants of pre-1937 titles are almost certainly post 1936 re-issues or reprints.


A selection of titles with the Classic IV. half cloth binding.

In the 1938-40 period several titles appeared in both single volume and double volume versions. Some had the single volume version in full cloth and the two volume version in half cloth, some had the two volumes in both ful; cloth and half cloth Classic IV, with the single volume in the new white full cloth binding introduced at that time. This coincided with a change in editorial layout, from 1938 the series half title was reversed to become the page covering the title rather than facing it, and the volume title was eliminated from the series half title. Hence all editions with such series half title are post-1938.


An 1938 title in single volume full cloth and two volume half cloth bindings.		The simple series half title of all editions from 1938 onwards.

Classic III/IV. hybrid (1934-1938)

Six titles published between 1934 and 1938 (Including Almasy's "In Air...") are known to have appeared with a Classic III/IV hybrid cover, with only the globe having a blue infill on full cloth boards. Three 1934 titles also have both Classic III and Classic IV versions, the rest only Classic IV. There is no readily evident pattern, we do not know if all six are contemporary, or perhaps this was a standard binding variant running parallel to the IV. till 1938. All such examples are very scarce, possibly with time more may surface enabling this question to be decided.


A selection of titles with the Classic III/IV. hybrid binding.

White half cloth binding (193?-1942)

Four titles published between 1934 and 1942 are known in a very scarce binding variety, with the Classic crimson cloth spines, but instead of the decorated crimson boards, a plain white board cover with an impressed gilt logo borowed from another Franklin series (World travelers). The 1934 title interior is identical in every way to the known 1934 editions (possibly the print run dates from that time), however as all other such titles are from 1939-42, it is suspected that this binding version dates to that period (possibly all date to 1941-42, when material shortages started to force improvisations). In any case, all such examples are very scarce.


The four known titles in White half board binding.

White full cloth binding (1938-1939)

Six of the eight confirmed 1938-1939 titles are also known in a plain white cloth binding, with mainly brown (one exception, in red) impressed title on spine and cover, plus the cover sporting a simple globe, the symbol of the society. In two cases, the white cloth title is a single volume version, while the co-existing Classic IV is in two volumes. The series title in all of them confirms these to be true MFTK series editions, unlike some other titles in the 1938-43 period, which were published by Franklin without series reference as single volumes, but inexplicably at the same time as double volumes with full series binding and titles.


A selection of titles with White full cloth binding.

There is one unique example where the same decoration as on the white full cloth version is used on a crimson half cloth binding, being identical to one of the binding versions used by Franklin for the Library of Modern Travelers and Exlplorers (MUFK) series. At present it is not known if this variety was a one-off example, or this binding version was in regular use in parallel for all white full cloth titles. It remains to be ascertained whether this copy has MFTK series half titles or not.

Other odd bindings

Two Baktay titles of 1939 and 1943 appear with a half cloth binding with plain red/crimson boards, in several slightly differing versions. They include series half titles, and appear to be publisher's bindings. Possibly they all date to 1942-43 when war shortages necesitated the re-use of other available materials. No other titles are known in such binding, and these too are very scarce.


The undecorated red/crimson half-cloth Baktay titles.

A single title, the Encyclopedia of Explorers (1937) is known in printed paperback covers, with the interior matching that of the regular Classic IV. version, but the paper cut to a slightly larger height.

It appears that from 1937 onwards (roughly contemporary with the introduction of the Classic IV. half cloth binding version) all titles were available for purchase unbound in plain paper wraps, with the buyers having them bound to their tastes (and wallets). A few have survived unbound, but also there are several known custom bindings from this period.

Dust Jackets

From what we know, all titles published in the Classic III/IV. cover variants after 1929 were issued with dust jackets. There is a single earlier exception (#18 Mittelholzer, 1926) which may imply that the Oval logo cover variants also had dust jackets, however if so none of the other pre-1929 ones are known. (Their existence is supported by known dust jackets on the "plain cover" Modern Utazók..." copies, which are a match for the MFTK oval logo covers). Only a total of 33 dust jackets are known, including that of Almásy's "Autóval Szudánba" and "Ismeretlen Szahara". As they were usually discarded, it is extremely rare to find copies with them.

Availability

Collectors of the series are well aware that some titles/cover combinations are more abundant then others. One most commonly comes accross the Classic III and Classic IV varieties of any title, it is clear that the thirties were the prime of the series, both in the number of titles published and the copies produced. Earlier cover versions become progressively more scarce, with the Classic I roman numeral (and the corresponding volume numbered Picture cover variant) titles being the most difficul to find. However there are some later titles that are rare, even exceptionally scarce. All of the three Almásy titles are rare, with "In Air... on Sand" being very rare, probably on account of the low number of copies produced, and the high interest surrounding Almásy and his travels. One extremely scarce title is #29 Fehér (1932), probably on account of very few copies ever made due to the Great Depression. Other titles have been placed on the banned books list in 1945 (books termed either "fascist propaganda" or "anti-communist", which resulted in their removal and destruction from bookstores and libraries, and from many private collections too - even owning them carried a criminal penalty), resulting in very few surviving till recent times. The scarcest are the last few titles produces in 1943, probably very few were printed in the first place, and the circumstances were not exactly encouraging for broad sales, with the unsold copies destroyed together with Franklin's premises in 1945.

Modern Utazók és Felfedezõk Könyvtára (MUFK)

(The Library of Modern Travelers and Explorers)

In 1924 (or 1925) Franklin started a series in bindings that were practically the same as the Picture cover and Classic bindings of the MFTK series. The MFTK series was re-launched in 1922 by Cholnoky, re-publishing most of the pre-war titles, and releasing two new titles, apparently the two ran parallel throughout the remainder of the nineteen twenties. The first in this new series, #MU1 Hedin appeared in a Picture cover binding, with the gilt atlas on the spine, however there was no reference to Földrajzi Társaság either inside or on the cover, and the cover and spine prominently displayed Franklin as the publisher.

Subsequently both this title and several others appeared in a binding almost identical to the MFTK Classic II, without an editor line, and the Series title being replaced by "Modern Utazók és Felfedezõk Könyvtára" (MUFK, Library of Modern Travelers and Explorers). The interiors lack any series title, the title page has no reference to any series editor, and the publisher is listed as Franklin Társulat instead of Lampel (however Lampel remains on the binding cover!). In the 1924 - 1931 period a total of 14 titles were published under this title series cover. Nine out of these titles were works by Ferdinand Ossendowski, president of the Polish Geographical Society, a vehement critic of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. It is certain that many of the titles in the series had a marked political edge (in line with the swing to the right in Hungary following the brief period of Communist power), however this is hadly true of the two books of Howard Carter on the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen which also appeared in this series.

Some of the 14 titles even appeared with regular MFTK covers (though on the inside lacking the series half title), further reducing the already narrow distinction between the two series. Like the MFTK series, several cover variants are known, apparently closely following those of the other series, however the insides with one exception are identical for all variants, indicating that all the titles were published only in a single edition. At present we have no information on who was the series editor (if anyone) and why did Franklin create this in-house competition to the MFTK series. It is clear however, that while in the period 1922-28 the MFTK series only grew with five new titles, all other releases were new editions of existing titles, the MUFK series grew by ten. The increase of new MFTK titles in 1929-30 seems to coincide with the discontinuation of the MUFK series, the last new title appearing in 1931 (though a new edition of #MU14 Ossendowski was prepared in 1943, in MFTK covers).

Picture cover (1924?)

A single title (#MU1 Hedin) appeared in a binding very similar to the MFTK Picture cover variety in late 1924 or early 1925, about the same time as the last MFTK Picture cover variants were produced. It had a cover picture impressed into the cloth, and the spine carried the gilt atlas with globe decoration, but no MFTK series title. On this version the publisher was prominently listed as Franklin on both spine and cover. Uniquely, this version is known to have had a dust jacket, something unknown for the MFTK Picture cover variants.


Cover and dust jacket of the Picture cover version of Hedin's "From Peking to Moscow"

Classic II. cover 1925-1929

All of the first nine titles up to 1929 have appeared in a binding that appears to be a copy of the MFTK Classic II, minus the editor line, and the series title replaced. The Lampel publisher line is retained, even though the interior clearly says Franklin as publisher. The endpapers are identical to some of the MFTK Classic II. examples, further confirming contemporarity. This cover version appears to have been discontinued at the same time the MFTK series also switched to the Classic III. version.


MUFK Classic II. examples, with common enddpaper below

One title is known in both MUFK and the proper MFTK Classic II. cover complete with the editor line listing Cholnoky as series editor, however the latter lacks on the inside the MFTK series half title, the interiors are identical for both variants. Such copies are very scarce, they were probably accidental misprints.

Oval logo cover 1925 - 1929

Three titles are also known in the proper MFTK oval logo version, complete with the Lampel publisher line on the bottom of the cover, suggesting a pre-1930 date. The interiors are identical in every way to the Classic II. binding varieties, there is no MFTK series half title. Such examples are very scarce, it appears that they were produced in very small numbers, probably in error.

Classic III. cover 1929-1930

Five titles are known with this binding version, which seems to have been introduced in 1929 at the same time as the Classic II. was discontinued both for the MUFK and MFTK series. It is identical to the MFTK classic III. variants with matching endpapers, the only difference being the series title. The change from the MUFK Classic II. is very subtle, being only the loss of the publisher line. Of note, one of the titles only appeared in this binding version, and only two are known with both Classic II. and Classic III. variants. All such copies are very scarce, it appears that this binding version was only produced in small quantities, and for a short period.


MUFK Classic III. examples, with common enddpaper below (note subtle differences compared to Classic II. above)

One title appeared in both MUFK and the proper MFTK Classic III. cover, however the latter lacks on the inside the MFTK series half title, the interiors are identical for both variants. Such copies are very scarce, they were probably accidental misprints.

Classic IV. cover 193? -

Six titles (all Ossendowski) are known with this cover, which is essentially the same as the Classic IV of the MFTK series, with the differing series title. They are probably mid-thirties re-issues of the original editions, as all of them have either Classic II or Plain crimson binding varieties.


MUFK Classic IV. examples.

One double volume title appeared in both full cloth MUFK and half cloth MFTK Classic IV. binding, the interiors are identical for both variants. It appears that the MFTK half cloth variant was produced purposefully as such in 1942 or 1943, when several such double volume titles were published in the MFTK series. However unlike some other titles which were also published by Franklin earlier in different binding, this one had no MFTK series half title inserted.

Plain crimson cover 1931 - 193?

All the Ossendowski titles (plus the single Hedin) have appeared in a binding that is practically the same as the MFTK Oval logo cover, minus the logo and the publisher line. Of note, there is no reference to the MUFK series title in any of these, the series title only ever appears on the binding of the Classic II/III/IV variants (all plain cover titles are known to have at least one or more Classic MUFK binding variants), however the interiors of all the variants appear to be identical. The endpapers of these Plain crimson binding varieties are plain purple, matching those of the MFTK series throughout the thirties. There is no conclusive proof, but it appears that these plain crimson cover editions were the result of a conscious decision to eliminate the MUFK series as a look-alike to the MFTK series, about the same time as Lampel was fully absorbed into Franklin in 1931.


Plain crimson cover examples, with common enddpaper below.

Gilt globe cover 1938-1939?

Five titles are known in this half-cloth cover, with plain white boards sporting a globe (very similar to the MFTK white cloth cover layout). The quality and workmanship is very similar to the MFTK Classic IV. half cloth variants, presumably all of these date from the late thirties. All such titles have other earlier variants.


Gilt globe half cloth examples.

Dust Jackets

Ten MUFK titles with the exception of the two Carter volumes and the Bokor and Vay titles (conspiciously the ones lacking the plain crimson cover variety) are known to have had dust jackets. At present we cannot conclusively tell whether the series had dust jackets from the beginning, or these were introduced only with the Plain crimson cover versions in the early thirties. However the evidence at present seems to support the latter, with all but one of the known dust jackets being associated with the plain crimson bindings.


Dust Jackets of several Ossendowski titles, all associated with Plain crimson cover examples.

The odd one out is #MU1 Hedin, where the dust jacket is also known associated with the Picture cover version, confirming an 1924 or 1925 date (similarly, the MFTK series has an odd dust jacket from 1926, with no other known examples before 1929). At present we don't know of any dust jackets associated with any of the MUFK classic binding variants.

Availability

The plain cover Ossendowski and Hedin titles are fairly common (despite most of these titles making it to the 'banned books list' in 1945), so they must have been produced in larger numbers during the nineteen thirties. However all titles in the Classic II/III/IV MUFK series and the various MFTK hybrid bindings are scarce, some being extremely rare.

List of all variants of published MFTK and MUFK titles

Below is a complete list of all published titles, editions and known binding variants of both series (note, in some cases it is likely that cover/edition combinations missing from the expected pattern do exist, I have only listed the ones which have been verified). Clicking on the titles will link to a detailed biliography page on each title, clicking the covers will display larger image of the cover variant :

The Library of the Hungarian Geographical Society series

Yr.

Author / Title

Pict.

Rom#

I/sc.

II.

Oval

III.

III/IV.

IV/cth.

IV/brd.