PY Rare Books

ABOUT py rare books

Our specialities cover everything related to the former Russian Empire and its neighbouring regions, from Eastern Europe to Alaska, through the Caucasus and Central Asia – travel, exploration, history, literature, arts, avant-garde etc., in emigration too. Occasionally other works which take our fancy. We focus on rare editions and quality copies, without the usual significant condition issues often met with Russian books.

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Image for GERSTENBERG. First Russian music almanac. St. Petersburg, 1795. #2

Music by early Russian composers, Franklin's glass harmonica and a composing game

GERSTENBERG, Johann Daniel (editor)

Karmannaia kniga dlia liubitelei muzyki. Na 1795 god [Pocket Book for Music Lovers. For the Year 1795]

£3,450

Music by early Russian composers, Franklin's glass harmonica and a composing game
GERSTENBERG, Johann Daniel (editor). Karmannaia kniga dlia liubitelei muzyki. Na 1795 god. [Pocket Book for Music Lovers. For the Year 1795]
Published/created in: [1795]

£3,450

A great rarity: the first edition of the first year of this short-living and wide-ranging almanac, the first music almanac in Russia. Only one copy traced outside Russia (Geneva) - a fine example in contemporary binding.

Image for NABHOLZ, J. General map of the Caucasus, in original German. First edition, St. Peterburg, 1797. #2

"The most accurate map... to date"

NABHOLZ, J[ohann] C[hristoph] (engraver)

General Charte Des Caukasischen Geburges [General Map of the Caucasus Mountains]

£1,950

"The most accurate map... to date"
NABHOLZ, J[ohann] C[hristoph] (engraver). General Charte Des Caukasischen Geburges. [General Map of the Caucasus Mountains]
Published/created in: 1797]

£1,950

Fine, crisp example of this lovely map of the Caucasus, an early and precise representation of the region, including its many various peoples and ethnic groups. Printed in St. Petersburg, rare, with no other copy traced on the market in recent years.

Image for A. WEGIERSKI - REGENVOLSCIUS. Systema...Ecclesiarum Slavonicarum... First edition, Utrecht, 1652. #2

With great provenance in interesting binding

[WEGIERSKI, Andrzej, also WENGIERSKI] Adrianus REGENVOLSCIUS

Systema historico-chronologicum, Ecclesiarum Slavonicarum pre provincias varias, Praecipue, Poloniae, Bohemiae, Lituaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Moraviae, &c..

£1,450

With great provenance in interesting binding
[WEGIERSKI, Andrzej, also WENGIERSKI] Adrianus REGENVOLSCIUS. Systema historico-chronologicum, Ecclesiarum Slavonicarum pre provincias varias, Praecipue, Poloniae, Bohemiae, Lituaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Moraviae, &c...
Published/created in: 1652

£1,450

Uncommon history of Polish Calvinists in Central and Eastern Europe, written in the 17th century. A very good copy of the first edition, from the Macclesfied library, with unusually abundant lettering to the spine.

Image for G. GROSZ. Hintergrund. First edition, complete. Berlin, 1928. #2

The complete set

GROSZ, George

Hintergrund. 17 Zeichnungen zur Aufführung des "Schwejk" in der Piscator-Bühne

£195

The complete set
GROSZ, George. Hintergrund. 17 Zeichnungen zur Aufführung des "Schwejk" in der Piscator-Bühne.
Published/created in: 1928

£195

First edition of these excellent and uncompromising caricatures of war, by the great provocative German artist. The complete suite.

Image for A. de COURTOIS. Organisation sociale de la Russie. Copy from the author. Paris, 1864. #2

Russian society analysed - and beautifully bound

[COURTOIS Alfred de]

Organisation sociale de la Russie. La Noblesse, la Bourgeoisie, le Peuple

£2,250

Russian society analysed - and beautifully bound
[COURTOIS Alfred de]. Organisation sociale de la Russie. La Noblesse, la Bourgeoisie, le Peuple.
Published/created in: 1864

£2,250

An intelligent analysis of Alexander II's famous reform and emancipation of the serfs. Uncommon, and here in a fantastic example from the author.

Image for [BELLARMINO]. Dottrina cristiana in Georgian, first edition. Rome, 1741. #2

Travelling catechism for the Caucasus

[BELLARMINO, Roberto and David TLUK’AANT [also TLUKAANTI], David (translator)]

Sakrist'iano Modzghuareba [Christian Instruction/Doctrine]

£2,250

Travelling catechism for the Caucasus
[BELLARMINO, Roberto and David TLUK'AANT [also TLUKAANTI], David (translator)]. Sakrist'iano Modzghuareba. [Christian Instruction/Doctrine]
Published/created in: 1741

£2,250

Fresh example of this small book, printed by the Catholiocs in Rome for missions in Georgia. First edition in Georgian, rare.

Image for RUSSIAN TALES: The Mitten; The Turnip. First edition in the original Russian. Odessa, 1919 #2

Children readings in war times

Rukavichka. Repka. Russkiia Skazki [Russian Tales: The Mitten. The Turnip]

£550

Children readings in war times
. Rukavichka. Repka. Russkiia Skazki. [Russian Tales: The Mitten. The Turnip]
Published/created in: 1919

£550

A lovely, fragile production of this short-lived publishing house from Kishinev and Odessa. Very rare as we could locate onoly two copies outside Russia. Published in 1919 - a tormented year for Odessa.

Image for J. HERBINIUS. Religiosae Kijovienses cryptae, sive Kijovia subterranea. First edition, Jena, 1675. #2

Ukrainian and Orthodox traditions through a lenient Protestant lens

HERBINIUS, M. Johannes

Religiosae Kijovienses cryptae, sive Kijovia subterranea: in quibus labyrinthus sub terra, et in eo emortua, à sexcentis annis, divorum atque heroum Graeco-Ruthenorum... corpora

£5,500

Ukrainian and Orthodox traditions through a lenient Protestant lens
HERBINIUS, M. Johannes. Religiosae Kijovienses cryptae, sive Kijovia subterranea: in quibus labyrinthus sub terra, et in eo emortua, à sexcentis annis, divorum atque heroum Graeco-Ruthenorum... corpora.
Published/created in: 1675

£5,500

An important work on the Kiev Lavra Cave monastery, the first non-religious book looking at its history and practices - as well as at Ukrainians at large. Particularly interesting for its tolerant point of view, and its striking illustrations. A complete, fresh copy; rarely found.

Image for P. LOTI, Pecheur d'Islande. Edition originale tirage limité, Paris, 1886 #2

Edition originale en version de luxe, aux planches en plusieurs états

LOTI, Pierre

Pêcheur d'Islande

£1,250

Edition originale en version de luxe, aux planches en plusieurs états
LOTI, Pierre. Pêcheur d'Islande.
Published/created in: 1886

£1,250

Loti's most celebrated novel: a fine example of the first edition, here with a record number of states of the plates, bound in full green morocco retaining the original bright orange publisher's wrappers.

Image for BOSSUET & BEDRINKSII. Politika [Politique tirée de l'Ecriture Sainte]. First Russian edition, St. Petersburg, 1802. In red morocco. #2

The Tsar, like the Sun King, reigns as God's minister

[BOSSUET, Jacques-Bénigne] Iakov Benign BOSSIUET and Ioann IOANNOV [Ivan BEDRINSKII] (translator)

Politika iz samykh slov Sviashchennogo pisaniia [Politique tirée de l'Écriture sainte]

£3,950

The Tsar, like the Sun King, reigns as God's minister
[BOSSUET, Jacques-Bénigne] Iakov Benign BOSSIUET and Ioann IOANNOV [Ivan BEDRINSKII] (translator). Politika iz samykh slov Sviashchennogo pisaniia. [Politique tirée de l'Écriture sainte]
Published/created in: 1802

£3,950

Excellent copy of this very rare first Russian edition of Bossuet's 'Politique'. No copies traced oustide Russia, including in French or American institutions.

Image for J. BADDELEY. Russia, Mongolia, China. First edition. London, 1919. #2

A splendid copy, unusually bound

BADDELEY, John F

Russia, Mongolia, China

£4,750

A splendid copy, unusually bound
BADDELEY, John F. Russia, Mongolia, China.
Published/created in: 1919

£4,750

Impressive example of the first edition, with a signed binding featuring two 1767 Russian coins. One of the greatest 20th-c. books on Eastern Russia, Siberia, and the historical relations with their neighbours. A fascinating and beautiful production.

Image for MANU & VASCONCELOS GUEDES DE CARVALHO. Leis de Manu. First edition in Portuguese, Nova Goa, 1859 #2

Important Indian text printed in Nova Goa

VASCONCELOS GUEDES DE CARVALHO, José de (translator and editor)

Leis de Manú, primeiro legislador da India [Laws of Manu, India's First Legislator]

£2,250

Important Indian text printed in Nova Goa
VASCONCELOS GUEDES DE CARVALHO, José de (translator and editor). Leis de Manú, primeiro legislador da India. [Laws of Manu, India's First Legislator]
Published/created in: 1859

£2,250

Scarce first edition of this major legal text of ancient India, here in its first Portuguese edition, printed in Nova Goa.