Wien, Ferdinand Schenk, [1903]. Folio (37.0 x 29.5 cm). Pictorial title page and 26 woodcut plates printed in green. Contemporary half morocco over marbled boards. Gilt title on the spine. Patterned endpapers. Top edge gilt. Original printed wrappers bound in.

This is a collection of double-lettered monograms designed and engraved in Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau style, by the Austrian painter, interior designer, and art professor at the academy in Bozen (Bolzano, northern Italy), Hans Nowack (1866-1918). All possible combinations of the 26 letters of the alphabet are represented on 26 plates with 26 illustrations each. Tiny stamp of the Assay Office Library, Birmingham, in the lower margin of the first blank recto. "The Birmingham Assay Office was founded in 1773 to provide assaying (testing) and hallmarking of precious metal items (gold, silver, platinum and palladium) as required by the Hallmarking Act. It has been a centre of expert opinion and independent assessment of jewellery and precious metals for nearly 250 years" (Birmingham Assay Office website). Tiny stamp "bound by R. H. Porter" in the lower margin of the front free endpaper verso. A very good, complete copy. Rare. OCLC reports copies in only three libraries, worldwide. Nikolaus Schaffer (1992) Hans Nowack (1866-1918). Ein Salzburger Aquarellist zur Jahrhundertwende.