Kuleba. Aloe-Fox: with a dancing couple on the cover. [Lviv], [n.d.]

“There is a crisis, and life is hard these days…”

Kuleba. Aloe-Fox / words and music: Kuleba.

[Lviv]: [n.d.], [n.r.].

Publication without a separate binding: cover made of thin brown paper, printed in black ink. Illustration — a dancing couple on a round pedestal in the Art Deco style; the title is rendered in outlined letters, and at the bottom of the musical staff — “words and music by ku-le-ba.” On the reverse — the second and third stanzas, printed in a handwritten typeface, and an advertisement for the “Aloe” factory. The paper is tanned, darkened, and creased in the middle; at the top and on the left are stains from moisture and grease, ink splatters, and dark spots. The edges are worn, with tears in the upper right corner and at the bottom; the lower edge has small serrations, and the corners are battered. The text and illustration are fully legible. Condition: good.

The collectible interest lies in the Art Deco cover and the very idea of a promotional song for a Lviv cosmetic factory.

INFORMATION

Aloe-Fox — an advertisement in the form of a song: Kuleba’s words and music are dedicated to the products of the Lviv chemical-cosmetic factory “Aloe.” In the verses, the crisis and everyday troubles become an occasion to recommend “Aloe” to everyone — from gentlemen and young ladies to mothers, daughters, children, mothers-in-law, and sons-in-law.

On the reverse, the factory (Lviv, 16 Henin Street, tel. 6-24) lists its first-rate products: face powders, cream, dry cream, toothpaste and tooth powder, Vaseline, and shampoos. The announcement promises that perfumes and floral waters will soon be available. The publication combines two functions — a song for performance and a commercial announcement.

A variant with a different cover — showing a price of 75 sot. and the mark “Published by Anatol Yamynskyi” — is offered as a separate lot.