Kamerad Motorrad: Ein Magazine Der NSU Arbeit, 1939 [Anton Stankowski]

Kamerad Motorrad: Ein Magazine Der NSU Arbeit by Arthur Westrup, 1939. NSU Werke Aktiengesellschaft Neckarsulm, Germany. 8.25 x 11.75, pp. 48 with german text. Design and photography by Anton Stankowski; with seven photos by W. Nagel. Gravure printing by Chr. Belser, Stuttgart, Germany.

Published as a one-time publication by NSU Work; the German manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles and automobiles, founded in 1873. With text throughout by Westrup, the advertising specialist who later led NSU's marketing department and helped find a larger audience. This promotional catalog [magazine] beautifully illustrates what a motorcycle is, how it is created–from the concept of the technical draftsman, down to the last detail. And finally, its use. Lavishly printed with New Vision photographs and avant-garde graphic design. The full-page, back cover advertisement is designed by Stankowski–[Emil] Zander.

In a 1991 interview, Stankowski was asked about this magazine: “I was a strong-willed advertising designer. During the Nazi era, however, I couldn’t get anywhere with my advertising concepts, so during those days, I earned a living chiefly by photographing products … it wasn’t possible to convince other companies to accept this rather modern approach."

A good magazine, well-handled with wear, bends to the corner tips and a large diagonal crease to the front cover with paper loss to the spine heal. Pages 1/2 and 41/42 have been hastily removed and replaced with loose, slipped-in single-side black and white photocopies (perhaps due to the Nazi insignia illustrated on one page). Despite this, still a rare opportunity to acquire an avant-garde catalog designed by Stankowski.