About the cover:

Full-grain binding Dark blue maroquin leather with a picture designed by Hans Erni for this binding and applied to the entire cover, leather overlays in several colours, lines blind-stamped and reworked with white opaque paint, constructed spine title; gilt head edge, hand-stitched endpapers; slipcase with leather-bound opening, Japanese wood veneer cover.

Original drawing by Hans Erni enclosed

About the content:

Senghor ∙ Erni Léopold Sédar Senghor (1906-2001) was a Senegalese poet and politician who studied in France, obtained French citizenship and was elected to the French National Assembly. He was the first president of Senegal from 1960-1980. He was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 1969 despite accusations that, as the founder of Francophone Négritude, he was too strongly in favour of Europe and colonialism. Hans Erni (1909-2015) was a Swiss painter, graphic artist and sculptor. He designed numerous lithographs, around 300 posters and several murals, illustrated countless books and created many designs for stamps and medals.

About the artist: Edwin Heim chose his profession because of his desire to learn a creative craft. After his apprenticeship as a manual binder in Aarau, he deepened his knowledge at the Scuola d'arte per legatori artistici in Ascona and with Ole Olsen in Copenhagen. He then attended the gilding class at the École Estienne in Paris. After his return to Switzerland, Joseph Stemmle entrusted him with the management of the Legatoria at the Centro del bel libro in Ascona. From 1984, he trained specialists from all over the world at the Scuola des cbl ascona for around 25 years.

At the same time, he was a guest lecturer and expert juror in Switzerland and abroad and took part in numerous exhibitions and competitions himself. He has received numerous awards and honours. Today he lives and works as a freelancer in Ascona.