Literature: Russian and neighbours | PY Rare Books

Showing 1–18 of 42 results

Image for D.H. LAWRENCE, first edition of Lady Chatterley's Lover in Russian, Berlin, 1932 #2

In the publisher's wrappers

LORENS, D. G. [D. H. LAWRENCE] and Tatiana LESHCHENKO (transl.)

Liubovnik ledi Chatterlei

£3,950

LORENS, D. G. [D. H. LAWRENCE] and Tatiana LESHCHENKO (transl.), Liubovnik ledi Chatterlei,Petropolis, Berlin , 1932.
First edition in Russian of Lawrence's famous scandalous work, banned in the UK, USA and Soviet Union. An early translation by a talented Russian woman who went from Moscow to New York and to the GULAG, and inspired Solzhenitsyn. Very rare: no copy in Russian libraries, none in the UK, only two traced in WorldCat (Princeton and Syracuse). Read More

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

£1,450

[DICKENS] - PLESHCHEEV, Aleksei Nikolaevich, Zhizn Dikkensa,Skt. Peterburg, I. N. Skorokhodov , 1891 (but censor auth. 17 Nov. 1890).
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. Read More

Image for Nabokov, Mashenka, first edition of his first novel, Berlin, 1926, in the original wrappers. #2

The birth of a great novelist

[NABOKOV, Vladimir Dmitrievich, as:] SIRIN, V

Mashenka

£6,950

[NABOKOV, Vladimir Dmitrievich, as:] SIRIN, V, Mashenka,Slovo, Berlin , 1926.
First edition of Nabokov's first novel, in the original Russian: a great example of this important edition, in the original publisher's wrappers in very good condition. Read More

Image for Akhmatova, Podorozhnik, first edition in original Russian, 1921 #2

One of 60 nominal copies

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Podorozhnik

£1,750

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Podorozhnik,Petropolis, Petrograd , 1921.
First edition of this celebrated poetry collection by one of Russia's best poets. A fresh example of the rare issue of only 60 nominal copies. Read More

Image for Rustaveli, Vepxistqaosani, The Knight in the Panther's Skin, in Georgian, Berlin, 1943 #2

For the Georgian soldiers of the Third Reich

RUSTAVELI, Shota

Vepxistqaosani

£4,750

RUSTAVELI, Shota, Vepxistqaosani,Gallus Druckerei, Berlin for Davit Keladze, [Paris?] , 1943.
The main national epic of Georgia in a very unusual, small-format production, in Georgian, for the Third Reich's "Georgian Legion". An extremely rare edition of Rustaveli's masterpiece, and a fantastic example from the 50 deluxe copies, here in a luxurious binding. Read More

Image for Pouchkine, Ruslan et Ludmila, première édition en vers, avec envoi, Paris, 1898. #2

Inscribed by the translator, a feminist character

[PUSHKIN] – Alexandre POUCHKINE, Véra STARKOFF (transl.) and Marie EGOROFF (artist)

Rouslane et Ludmile

£2,450

[PUSHKIN] - Alexandre POUCHKINE, Véra STARKOFF (transl.) and Marie EGOROFF (artist), Rouslane et Ludmile,Lafoyer, Vannes, for Librairie de l'art indépendant, Paris , 1898.
The first complete poetic French translation of Pushkin's celebrated work. Strikingly illustrated by an original Russian female artist, and this copy inscribed by the translator: a politically-engaged playwright and one of the main figures of the feminist theatre movement in France. Rarely found, and only 500 copies printed. Read More

Image for MILLER, Tropik raka: first Russian edition, New York, 1964. #2

First Russian edition, at Miller's request

MILLER, Genri [Henry] and Georgii EGOROV (transl.)

Tropik raka

£2,750

MILLER, Genri [Henry] and Georgii EGOROV (transl.), Tropik raka,Grov Press, Niu Iork , 1964.
First Russian edition, initiated by Miller himself as soon as 1964, of this most transgressive work, banned in the USA and in Soviet Union. Published by Rosset in New York, limited to 200 copies, and now very rare on the market. Read More

The first two Italian translations of Pushkin - two rarities

[PUSHKIN] – Alessandro POUSCHKINE, Alessandro ROCCHIGIANI (translator) [and] Cesare BOCCELLA (translator)

Il Prigioniero del Caucaso
[together with]
I Quattro Poemi maggiori di Alessandro Pouschkine

[PUSHKIN] - Alessandro POUSCHKINE, Alessandro ROCCHIGIANI (translator) [and] Cesare BOCCELLA (translator), Il Prigioniero del Caucaso

[together with]

I Quattro Poemi maggiori di Alessandro Pouschkine,Napoli, Stamperia e Cartiera del Fibreno, 1834 [and] Pisa, Didot , 1841.
The first two Italian translations of Russia's greatest poet, both examples in lovely condition, bound in plain wrappers. Both books are very rare. Read More

Image for Bulgakov, Heart of Dog, first Russian book edition, Paris, YMCA, 1969. #2

U-u-u-u-u-u... in first edition

BULGAKOV, Mikhail

Sobache serdtse

£1,450

BULGAKOV, Mikhail, Sobache serdtse,Beresniak for YMCA, Paris , 1969.
Uncommon first book edition in Russian of Bulgakov's suppressed satirical masterpiece. A lovely copy in its original wrappers by Annenkov. Read More

Image for TOLSTOY, Anna Karenina, first edition, 1878 #1

Anna Karenina in first edition and contemporary binding

TOLSTOY, Lev Nikolaevich

Anna Karenina

£14,500

TOLSTOY, Lev Nikolaevich, Anna Karenina,T.Ris, Moskva , 1878.
Tolstoy's masterpiece in first edition: a complete example of this classic of Russian and world literature in contemporary Russian binding. Read More

Image for Ukrainian literary almanac, Lervak, first edition, 1852 #2

Literary identity in Western Ukraine

Pavel LEONTOVICH and others

Lervak z nad Siana

£4,500

Pavel LEONTOVICH and others, Lervak z nad Siana,Knigopechatnia sobornoi ruskoi Kapituly, Peremyshl , 1852.
An extremely rare and fascinating book related to the national identity of Western Ukraine, through language and literature. Read More

Image for Pushkin through the Caucasus, one of 50 copies, by Serge Lifar #1

Svetlov-Fekula copy - one of 50 only

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr Sergeevich, Sergey LIFAR and Prof. M. L. GOFMAN (editors)

Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda

£2,950

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr Sergeevich, Sergey LIFAR and Prof. M. L. GOFMAN (editors), Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda,Lifar, Paris , 1934.
Pushkin's best travel account in a fine bibliophilic edition, one of 50 'ad nominem' copies only, this one for Valerian Svetlov. Read More

Image for TSVETAEVA, Poslee Rossii, first edition in wrappers, 1928 #1

Her last poems - in original wrappers

TSVETAEVA, Marina

Posle Rossii. 1922-1925

£3,950

TSVETAEVA, Marina, Posle Rossii. 1922-1925,Imp. Union for I.E. Povolotsky, Paris , 1928.
The last poetry of Russia's great poetess, banned in the USSR: a fine example of the first edition, in the original wrappers. Includes one of Tsvetaeva's most famous poems. Read More

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

£19,500

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna, Volshebnyi fonar. Vtoraia kniga stikhov,Ole-Lukoie, Moskva , 1912.
RARE FIRST EDITION OF Tsvetaeva's SECOND BOOK OF POETRY, CONTAINING TWO OF the MOST FAMOUS POEMS of the Russian writer. One of only 500 copies; an attractive example with the fragile original velvet binding unrestored. Read More

Image for Akhmatova, Brodsky and others, Important poems and other texts, incl. Poem bez geroia [Poem Without a Hero], first editions. #1

The Pantheon of the Silver Age - a complete set

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Isaac BABEL, Iosif BRODSKII, Osip MANDELSHTAM, Vladimir NABOKOV, Boris PASTERNAK, Marina TSVETAEVA et al

Vozdushnye Puti

£1,500

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Isaac BABEL, Iosif BRODSKII, Osip MANDELSHTAM, Vladimir NABOKOV, Boris PASTERNAK, Marina TSVETAEVA et al, Vozdushnye Puti,New York , 1960-67.
The first publication of Akhmatova's 'Poem Without a Hero' [Poem bez geroia] - as well as many other works by some of the best Russian poets and authors of the 20th century: a complete set of this important literary almanac, rare so. Read More

U-u-u-u-u-u....: the first publication

BULGAKOV, Mikhail

Sobache serdtse

£1,000

BULGAKOV, Mikhail, Sobache serdtse,London, Student, Zhurnal Avangarda Sovetskoi Literaturi, Flegon Press , 1968.
First publication in Russian of Bulgakov's suppressed satirical masterpiece, banned in Soviet Union until 20 years later. Read More

Image for BULGAKOV, Khanskii ogon, Leningrad, 1924. First publication. #2

Early publication of the great author

BULGAKOV, Mikhail (and others)

Khanskii ogon

£2,000

BULGAKOV, Mikhail (and others), Khanskii ogon,Rabochee izd-vo Priboi, Leningrad , 1924.
First appearance in print of this short story by Bulgakov, the celebrated author of 'Master and Margarita': an early publication of one of Russia's best novelists, before he was banned. Rarely found. Read More

Image for Akhmatova, typed letter signed by her, 1962 #2

The great Russian poetess lists her Russian publications

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Typed letter signed ('Anna Akhmatova') to Boris Tarasov ('Dear Boris Aleksandrovich')

£2,750

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Typed letter signed ('Anna Akhmatova') to Boris Tarasov ('Dear Boris Aleksandrovich'),Moscow , 25 November 1962.
Fine book-related letter signed by Akhmatova, one of Russia's greatest poets, where she lists her recent publications in Russia, after a difficult period of hard censorship. Read More