95.00€
A rare and historically fascinating lot of 5 original vintage Greek fairy tale booklets from the celebrated Διαλεκτά Παραμύθια (“Selected Fairy Tales”) series published by Daremas Editions in Athens during the 1960s.
Beyond their charming folk-art illustrations and collectible mid-century children’s publishing aesthetic, this group is particularly important because three of the booklets bear the rare official censorship and approval stamp:
“Υπουργείον Προεδρίας Κυβερνήσεως – Διεύθυνσις Τύπου – Έλεγχος Βιβλίων”
(“Ministry of the Prime Minister’s Office – Press Directorate – Book Control”)
with royal emblem and handwritten signatures by the supervising officials.
These stamps document the state book-control and censorship procedures applied in Greece during periods of strict political oversight, particularly associated with the era of the Greek military junta (1967–1974), although similar supervision mechanisms existed slightly earlier as well.
As such, the lot represents not only collectible children’s literature, but also an unusual surviving testimony of state censorship practices in modern Greek publishing history.
Titles Included:
1. Το βασιλόπουλο και τα πουλιά
(The Prince and the Birds) – No. 97
With censorship stamps
2. Η ουρά του δράκοντα
(The Dragon’s Tail) – No. 98
Without stamps
3. Ο γίγαντας του δάσους
(The Giant of the Forest) – No. 105
With censorship stamps
4. Η μαύρη πέτρα
(The Black Stone) – No. 106
Without stamps
5. Η βασιλοπούλα και το βασιλόπουλο/Η βασιλοπούλα και ο βοσκός
(The Princess and the Prince/Shepherd) – No. 107
One official stamp on title page with signatures on cover and title page
The grouping is particularly attractive because it includes sequential issues from two close number runs, offering an excellent snapshot of the series during its mature publication period.
About the Series
The Διαλεκτά Παραμύθια (“Selected Fairy Tales”) series formed part of Daremas’ famous mid-20th-century children’s publishing output, alongside the related series Τα Ωραιότερα Παραμύθια (“The Most Beautiful Fairy Tales”).
These inexpensive pocket-format editions became extremely popular in Greece during the 1950s and 1960s and are remembered today for:
their vibrant folk-art cover illustrations,
exotic and oriental fairy tale themes,
and characteristic zincography printing techniques typical of the era.
Their visual style shares affinities with other iconic Greek popular publications such as Ο Μικρός Ήρως and Γκαούρ Ταρζάν.
Details
Publisher: Daremas, Athens
Series: Διαλεκτά Παραμύθια (“Selected Fairy Tales”)
Era: Circa 1960s
Format: Pocket-size illustrated booklets
Dimensions: Approx. 17.5 cm × 12 cm each
Pages: Approx. 32 pages each
Language: Greek
Printing method: Traditional zincography
Condition
Very good (+) vintage condition overall
All booklets preserve their original uncut edges.
Light natural paper aging
Covers bright and attractive
Minor handling wear consistent with age
No major tears or missing pages
Please examine all photographs carefully for detailed condition assessment.
Collector’s note:
All five booklets remain in their original uncut state, preserving the pages exactly as issued by the publisher.
Uncut copies of inexpensive Greek mid-century popular publications are increasingly scarce, as most surviving examples were trimmed, read extensively, or discarded. Their survival in uncut form significantly enhances both their bibliophilic and collector interest.
Historical & Collector’s Importance
The censorship stamps significantly enhance the historical and collector value of the lot, documenting:
Greek state censorship procedures,
political oversight of printed material,
and the intersection of childhood culture and authoritarian control during the Cold War era.
