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 GONCHAROVA & LARIONOV. Original Lithographs with Manuscript Notes. Moscow, 1913. #2

Major avant-garde lithographs as scrap paper - with interesting notes

[GONCHAROVA, Natalia and Mikhail LARIONOV]

A Collection of Original Lithographs with Manuscript Notes

Moskva, 1913. £4,750

Fine group of important illustrations by Goncharova and Larionov, from the earliest days of Russian avant-garde, later used as scrap paper in Mayakovsky's circles.

"The five-year plan for mastering the Arctic" (page 1)

LISSITZKY, El [Lazar Markovich] (designer)

USSR in Construction. The Arctic Issue (1933 No. 9)

The State Publishing Union of RSFSR, Moscow, 1933. £1,150

The famous Arctic issue of the main propaganda magazine from Soviet Union, designed by Lissitzky. A superb production, here in its English version and in fresh condition.

Image for SINIAKOVA & FEDORCHENKO. Dobryi son. First edition. Moscow, 1930. #2

Avant-garde women producing a rare children book

SINIAKOVA, M[ariia] (artist) and S[ofia] FEDORCHENKO

Dobryi son [Kind Dream/Nice Sleep]

Gos. izd., Moskva, 1930. £1,250

Very rare first edition of this children book: no copies traced outside Russia. A fine collaboration of two women active in circles of the Russian avant-garde.

Image for ZHIGANOV-JIGANOFF. Russkie v Shankhaie. Russians in Shanghai. First edition. Shanghai, 1936. #2

Fascinating and impressive panorama of Russian emigration in China

ZHIGANOV – JIGANOFF, Vladimir

Russkie v Shankhaie. Russians in Shanghai

Slovo, Shanghai, 1936. £5,750

Fantastic publication on the important Russian community in 1920s-30s Shanghai. Wide-ranging, very richly illustrated, with a wealth of fascinating details. A lovely copy of the first edition, scarce.

Image for MALINOVSKII. Istoricheskoe opisanie....oruzheiskoi palaty... First edition. Moscow, 1807. #2

One of the most impressive early illustrated Russian books

MALINOVSKII, Aleksei (editor)

Istoricheskoie opisanie drevniago rossiiskago muzeia pod nazvaniem masterskoi i oruzheiskoi palaty… [A Historical Account of the Museum of Ancient Russia known as the Workshop and Armoury Chamber. Part I (all published)]

Imp. Moskovsk. Univ., Moskva, 1807. £10,000

First edition of this important book, the first catalogue of the first Kremlin Museum. A large-format edition and one of the best early Russian illustrated books.

Image for F. TAHIROFF [TAGIROV] and others. New York (an outline). First edition. Moscow, 1933. #2

Fine photomontage book on the Big Apple - published in English in Moscow

TAHIROFF, F[aik] (artist), John KASHKEEN (compiler), John REED, John DOS PASSOS and others

New York (an outline)

Co-operative publishing society of foreign workers in the USSR, Moscow, 1933. £9,750

"The price paid by American people": a fine Soviet book pulished in English in the wake of the Great Depression. With extensive photomontage; a very good copy of the first edition, rare complete with both supplements.

Image for BELLARMINO. Dottrina Christiana in Armenian. First complete edition, Rome 1630. The Cardinal Borghese's copy. #2

Catechism for the Armenians - with prestigious provenance

[BELLARMINO, Roberto and] Pietro PAOLO (transl.)

Arrawyel Parzabanut'iwn K'ristoneakan... Dichiaratione più copiosa della Dottrina Christiana [Further Clarification of the Christian Doctrine]

Roma, Propaganda Fide, 1630. £6,500

The Borghese copy of an important book: the first translation into Armenian of this major text of the Catholic Church. This is the first complete edition in Armenian and the second book printed in Armenian by the Propaganda Fide. Scarce, with only 3 copies traced in the US.

Image for MAYAKOVSKY & BURLIUK. Otkrytie Ameriki. New York, 1925. First edition. #2

On the way to the New World

MAIAKOVSKII, Vladimir [MAYAKOVSKY] and David BURLIUK (artist)

Otkrytie Ameriki [Discovery of America]

New York, New World Press, [1925]. £2,250

Rare first edition of Mayakovsky's poem, illustrated by Burliuk and published in the USA. A little pamphlet, here in a fine copy.

Image for V. EROFEEV. Moskva-Petushki. First edition. Paris, 1977. #2

"One of the major achievements of Russian prose of the 20th century" (Oborin)

EROFEEV, Venedikt

Moskva-Petushki [Moscow-Petushki, also translated as Moscow to the End of the Line]

Floch, Mayenne, for YMCA-PRESS, Paris, 1977. £2,750

First book edition of one of the most famous Russian novels of the last century and a celebrated 'tamizdat'. Uncommon on the market, here in attractive condition.

Image for [ALEKSEI MIKHAILOVICH] - BARTENEV. Sobranie pisem Tsaria... First edition, Moscow, 1856. #2

With falcon hunting by Peter the Great's father

BARTENEV, Petr (editor)

Sobranie pisem tsaria Alekseia Mikhailovicha.. [Collection of Letters of the Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich]

Gotie, Moskva, 1856. £1,750

First edition of about all writings of Tsar Alexey, an important Romanov and the father of Peter the Great. Includes his falcon hunting instructions, the first such Russian book. The letters touch a wide range of important political matters in pre-petrine Russia.

Image for Ayn RAND. The Fountainhead - First edition in Russian. St. Petersburg, 1995. An excellent copy. #3

First in her native language - at last

REND, Ain [Ayn RAND; pseud. for Alisa ROZENBAUM] and D[mitrii] KOSTYGIN (translator)

Istochnik [The Source; ie. The Fountainhead in Russian translation]

Assotsiatsiia biznesmenov Peterburga, Skt. Peterburg, 1995. £3,750

Very rare first edition of 'The Fountainhead' in Rand's native language, Russian. No copies traced at auction, even in Russia; only two in libraries, none in Amercia. A beautiful example.