Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna, *Mirror of the Night* [1928]

Year of publication: 1928 (backdated—actually published in 1927). First edition.

Number of pages: 90

Size: 18 cm.

Binding: Original publisher’s cloth-bound hardcover.

Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna (1888–1983) served as a nurse during World War I and, from 1926 to 1935, as Józef Piłsudski’s personal secretary at the Ministry of Military Affairs. “Zwierciadło nocy” is one of her mature collections of poetry, alongside “Płaczący ptak” and “Popiół i perły.” It is atmospheric poetry, featuring original imagery of night and dreams, imbued with metaphysical reflection. The volume was published in the “Pod znakiem Poetów” series by Jakub Mortkowicz, a publisher known for his high editorial standards.

First edition, in the Mortkowicz series, for lovers of poetry from the interwar period.

The volume is partially loose; the stitching on some sections is weakened. The pages are clean, with no foxing, stains, or missing text. The cloth binding has faded noticeably, especially on the spine and edges.

An item from the 19th Polish Antiquarian Book Auction.