Literature: Russian and neighbours

Image for DICKENS - PLESHCHEEV, first 'Life of Dickens' in Russian, first book edition. #2

Dickens' life for Russian readers

[DICKENS] – PLESHCHEEV, Aleksei Nikolaevich

Zhizn Dikkensa [The Life of Dickens]

£1,450

[DICKENS] - PLESHCHEEV, Aleksei Nikolaevich, Zhizn Dikkensa

Rare first significant biography of the great Victorian author in Russian, written by an active (and politically engaged) man of letters. First book edition. Apparently no copy in Britain, only at the NYPL and in Sidney outside Russia.

Image for PUSHKIN & TOMASHEVSKII. Gavriiliada. Peterburg, 1922. #1

Pushkin's erotica with erudite comments

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr and Boris TOMASHEVSKII (editor)

Gavriiliada [The Gabrieliad]

£50

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr and Boris TOMASHEVSKII (editor), Gavriiliada

Pushkin's most famous censored work, here in a lovely and important scholarly edition, finely produced.

Image for CHEKHOV, A. Cherry Orchard, second edition. St. Petersburg, 1904. #2

In the lovely art-nouveau wrappers

CHEKHOV, Anton

Vishnevyi Sad [Cherry Orchard]

£1,500

CHEKHOV, Anton, Vishnevyi Sad

Uncommon edition of Chekhov's masterpiece, with only the publisher's wrappers different from the first edition. A pleasant example.

Image for AKHMATOVA, A. Korean Classical Poetry, inscribed. Moscow, 1958 #2

Only allowed to translate

AKHMATOVA, Anna (translator)

Koreiskaia klassicheskaia poeziia [Korean Classical Poetry. Translated by Anna Akhmatova]

£2,750

AKHMATOVA, Anna (translator), Koreiskaia klassicheskaia poeziia

A fine association copy of this touching work of one of the greatest Russian poets of the 20th century, then only allowed to do translation work. Inscirbed by Akhmatova to her fellow translator.

Image for CHEKHOV, A.P. Povesti i razskazy. First book edition, Moscow, 1894. #2

Great copy with contemporary provenance

CHEKHOV, Anton Pavlovich

Povesti i razskazy [Novellas and Stories]

£6,750

CHEKHOV, Anton Pavlovich, Povesti i razskazy

Some of the best short stories of the great Russian author (such as 'The Black Monk'), here in an attractive example with fine bibliophilic provenance.

Image for JABOTINSKY, V. Piatero, rare first edition in original Russian, 1936. #1

Odessa sung by her celebrated Zionist son

ZHABOTINSKII, V. (ALTALENA) [also JABOTINSKY]

Piatero [The Five]

£4,950

ZHABOTINSKII, V. (ALTALENA) [also JABOTINSKY], Piatero

Very rare first edition of Jabotinsky's best novel: one of 75 copies on papier Japon, out of a total printrun of only 125 copies. A fine novel about Jabotinsky's native city in Ukraine, Odessa, far from his important Zionist militant activities. In original Russian.

Image for BULGAKOV, M. Master i Margarita, first edition. Paris, 1967. #2

First edition of one of the greatest Russian novels

BULGAKOV, Mikhail

Master i Margarita [Master and Margarita]

£5,500

BULGAKOV, Mikhail, Master i Margarita

Pleasant example, in the original wrappers, of the first edition of this amazing novel, one of the best ever written in Russia. Banned in Soviet Union.

Image for TOLSTOY, L. Master and Man, first edition, first issue. Moscow, 1895. #2

Famous short story - with the original wrappers

TOLSTOY, Leo

Khoziain i rabotnik. Rasskaz [Master and Man. A Story]

£1,500

TOLSTOY, Leo, Khoziain i rabotnik. Rasskaz

Pleasant example, finely bound with the original wrappers, of this important short story by one of the greatest Russian authors. First issue of the first edition.

Image for BULGAKOV, M. Samizdat of Sobache Serdtse [Heart of a Dog]. #2

Illegally home-made and in superbly fresh condition

BULGAKOV, Mikhail

Sobache Serdtse [Heart of a Dog]

£2,250

BULGAKOV, Mikhail, Sobache Serdtse

Bulgakov's short masterpiece here in 'samizdat' version, ie. typed at home illegally - an unusually fresh example.

In contemporary binding

TURGENEV, Ivan Sergeevich

Nov [Virgin Soil]

£4,500

TURGENEV, Ivan Sergeevich, Nov

Pleasant example of this scarce and important Russian novel - first edition, printed outside Russia.

Image for TSVETAEVA, Volshebnyi fonar, The Magic Lantern, first edition in original binding, 1912 #2

Possibly Russia's greatest poetess - in the original velvet

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna

Volshebnyi fonar. Vtoraia kniga stikhov [The Magic Lantern. Second Book of Verse]

£19,500

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna, Volshebnyi fonar. Vtoraia kniga stikhov

Very rare first edition of Tsvetaeva's second book of poetry, containing two of her most famous poems. One of only 500 copies; an attractive example with the fragile original velvet binding unrestored.

Image for KRYLOV, Ivan. Fables russes. Paris, Didot, 1825. Fine example. #2

Russian fables for Europe: illustrated and translated

KRYLOV – KRILOFF, Ivan Andreevich

Basni russkiia [...] Fables russes [...] imitées en vers Français et Italiens par divers auteurs

£8,750

KRYLOV - KRILOFF, Ivan Andreevich, Basni russkiia [...] Fables russes [...] imitées en vers Français et Italiens par divers auteurs

Attractive example of this famous edition of Russia's greatest fabulist, in Russian, French and Italian, with engraved plates. A luxury lifetime production, here particularly fresh.

Image for TSVETAEVA, BLOK, BELYI, VOLOSHIN... Antologiia. Musaget, Moscow, 1911. First edition. #2

With many important poets of the Silver Age

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna, et al

Antologiia [Anthology]

£1,000

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna, et al, Antologiia

The young Tsvetaeva among other greats: Blok, Belyi, Solovev, Voloshin etc. Her second appearance in print, and the first of two poems of hers. With the original printed wrappers.