Karl Hans Strobl & Alfons von Czibulka [eds.] - Der Orchideengarten: Phantastische Blatter - Dreilanderverlag, 1919-1921, First Edition.

Munich, Dreilanderverlag, 1919-1921. First edition, first impression. Hardback. A near fine set. This is the full run of 51 issues. Clute in the SFE notes this as likely "the first specialised fantasy magazine in the world". The first issue predating Weird Tales by four years. It contains numerous luminaries including Hoffmann, Wells, Capek and Conan Doyle, and is finely illustrated throughout. Focussing mostly on early fantasy and weird fiction, there was one issue dedicated to sf. Of central importance to the genre. It's more common to see the first two runs of 18 and 24 issues, but the final 12 issues are very hard to find (note, that three issues are double, so there are 54 numbered issues of 51 parts). The magazines are bound without their wrappers (except one in volume one) with the first year in volume one and the second and third years in volume two. The bindings are fairly plain but satisfactory with a little rubbing and edge wear. Pulpy paper but in excellent shape and not too toned, a couple of short tears to a few leaves. Some trimming to the edges, but largely bound nicely. [12495, Hyraxia Books].