Omitted Neurath

Wien: Verlag der Neuen Wiener Handelsakademie, 1913. 250 by 180mm (9¾ by 7 inches). Two-color calf binding with ornamental spine; [4], 315 pp. Entire volume VIII. (19.) of the Jahresbericht der Neuen Wiener Handelsakademie. In German. Neurath’s article is on pp. 97–148. All edges gilt. Previous owner’s stamp to end papers. Inscribed by the director of the Handelsakademie to Frau Louise Chamrath on October 26, 1913. Very Good with light bumping and wear to binding; spine label rubbing. Otto Neurath (1882–1945) was an Austrian sociologist, political economist, and a leading figure of the Vienna Circle. He is best known in for inventing the ISOTYPE method of pictorial statistics wherein images are used to convey additional information in a visually pleasing manner. Modern-day infographic teacher Edward Tufte is described as the next-generation embodiment of Neurath’s philosophy.

EXILE: Neurath was active in Red Vienna and other socialist organizations which made him a target of the National Socialists. In 1934, Neurath had been working in Moscow. Anticipating problems, he had asked to receive a coded message in case it became dangerous for him to return to Austria. Upon receiving the telegram ​“Carnap is waiting for you”, Neurath went into exile in the Netherlands. After the Luftwaffe bombed Rotterdam, he fled to Britain.

This article by Neurath is an extensive economic and banking analysis of the Balkans. Neurath’s travel to the Balkans to research the article was funded by the Carnegie Foundation.

Objectively scarce. At the time of cataloguing, no other copies for sale. OCLC locates only 3 copies in Europe and no copies in North America. KVK locates one additional copy in Austria. No auction records in Rare Book Hub. This contribution is frequently omitted from even extensive lists of Neurath’s works.