05. <i>[The Leading Yiddish Humor Magazine of the Early 20th Century]</i> Tunkel, Yosef & Jacob Marinoff, editors

DER KIBITSER. [AND] DER GROYSER KIBITZER [AND] DER GROYSER KUNDES. VOL I, NRS 1-27 (DEC 15, 1908--DEC 27, 1909) [27 ISSUES. COMPLETE FOR VOLUME I] דער קיבעצערדער, גרויסער קיבעצער, ‏דער גרויסער קונדס

[New York]: Ferlag "Kibets", 1909. Item #42930

1st Edition. Original publisher’s binding, Folio (newspaper). Complete first volume, Starting with Vol I, Nr 1 of “Der Kibitser” (Dec. 15, 1908), renamed and renumbered first as Vol I, Nr 1 (Jan 22, 1909) of “Der Groyser Kibetser The big kibetzer” (with the following issue of Feb 5 numbered as "3" to correctly follow from the first issue) and then with Vol I, Nr 6 (March 19, 1909) onward as “Der Groyser Kundes The Big Stick” or “The Big Prankster.” Incidentally, the other set of this volume we examined also did not have a Nr 2, so we are confident this is complete as issued.
One centerfold cartoon by Zuni Maud (see image) features "Der Kaptialistisher Tayfel"--the Capitalist Devil–holding back a "mother" by the hair to stop her from interfering as "baby's milk-bottle" is drained off by the "milk-trust" cat.
The caption reads, "The Capitalist Devil: - (to the mother): Never mind madam [all in English in Hebrew letters], you go to the factory, the milk-trust will take good care of your baby."
This cartoon-laden periodical was a New York City, Yiddish language satirical (bi-) weekly which ran from 1908 until 1927.
The humor paper was issued biweekly (this volume) for its first 20 months and then weekly after that. OCLC also references another Vol I, Nr 1 from April 15, 1908, a special S´imhes` Toyreh (Simchas Torah) issue, but this may have been a one-off.
Founded by the humorist Yosef Tunkel (or Der Tunkeler, his pen name, meaning 'The Dark One'), the paper was taken on by Jacob Marinoff when Tunkel left to work for an established paper in Warsaw. The paper consciously set itself up in opposition to the serious Yiddish-language press of the time such as the socialist Forverts.Naturally, more traditional religious Judaism did not escape its satire: The later 1915 "Christmas" edition included a parodic conversation between Jesus and the prophet Elijah.
Despite its irreverent attitude to everything, it also published poetry by Di Yunge ("The Young Ones") poets such as Moyshe-Leyb Halpern and Zuni Maud. At its height it had a circulation of 35,000 but folded in 1927 due to flagging sales. Der Groyer Kunds is highlighted in this recent talk by Yiddish comics scholar Eddie Portnoy on the reactions in the Yiddish press to restrictions on Jewish immigration to the US: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/archival-recordings/recorded-programs/ybcr-nybc-ybcr-1048/door-slams-shut-reactions-yiddish-press-immigration .
SUBJECT(S): Yiddish wit and humor -- Periodicals. OCLC: 28297536. Most holdings appear to be fragmentary and do not include these issues. Issue 18 with torn cover. In final issue, the bottom margin suffers some loss to the final leaves (none to the dramatic front cover, though). Damaged boards are loose, and most issues are coming loose, though the quality paper used has remaind strong and bright, much better than standard newsprint would have. Important graphic Yiddish humor from the great migration period. Dramatic and displayable! (BK5) (YID-43-9A-LEX).

Price: $2,750.00