Lot #65: Vintage 1993 Latvian Children's Magazine MAZPUTNIŅŠ No. 401 – Rare Jānis Širmanis Memorial

• Title: Mazputniņš ("Little Bird") — Mēnešraksts latviešu zēniem un meitenēm visā pasaulē (Monthly Magazine for Latvian Boys and Girls Around the World) • Issue: May 1993, No. 401 (1993. g. maijs) • Language: Written completely in Latvian • Publisher: Sponsored by the Latvian Institute; published by Mazputniņš in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA • Cover Illustration: Viestarts Aistars Overview This is a beautifully preserved, original issue of Mazputniņš, the premier mid-to-late 20th-century cultural and educational monthly magazine printed explicitly for children of the Latvian diaspora (trimda). Collector Notes of Interest • Special Memorial Issue: This exact issue is highly significant as a dedicated tribute to the legendary Latvian children’s author Jānis Širmanis (1904–1992), who had passed away the previous year. The publication notes that it was funded via special community donations specifically to honor his legacy. • The "Master of Fairy Tales": Jānis Širmanis is widely celebrated as the Pasaku meistars (Master of Fairy Tales). This issue includes a full-page tribute portrait of him along with several of his most beloved stories and serialized entries, including tales featuring his iconic characters Kriksis (the adventurous dog) and Pikstīte (the white mouse). • Historical Publisher Value: Published in Kalamazoo, Michigan—a primary hub for post-WWII Latvian exile cultural preservation. Mazputniņš ran from 1959 to 1994, making this 1993 issue one of the final editions printed before the magazine ceased physical production. • Interactive Diaspora Ephemera: The issue includes traditional sheet music ("Sabaroju kumeliņu"), poetry, historical notes on classic Latvian writers Rainis and Aspazija, and an illustrated printable board game titled Lielmežs printed across the center pages. Pickup category timeslot {A}