Literature: Russian and neighbours | PY Rare Books

Showing 1–18 of 119 results

Image for Noveishii polnyi pismovnik... St. Petersburg, 1820. #2

How to write letters about everything

Noveishii polnyi pismovnik ili vseobshchyi sekretar [The Newest Complete Letter-Writing Manual, or General Secretary]

£1,750

, Noveishii polnyi pismovnik ili vseobshchyi sekretar

A great resource for any Russian writing letters at the beginning of the 19th century: from love letters in verses to business and administrative correspondance, or official letters to the highest-ranked people, everything is included in this rare work. No copy of this edition traced outside Russia.

Image for I. GONCHAROV. Obryv. First edition, St. Petersburg, 1870. #2

"This is the child of my heart"

GONCHAROV, Ivan

Obryv [The Precipice]

£2,500

GONCHAROV, Ivan, Obryv

First edition in book form of this novel, Goncharov's last. A fresh, crisp example.

Image for Charles P. de KOCK. La Laitière de Montfermeil in Russian, first edition. Skt. Peterburg, 1832. #2

French peasants in Russian literature

KOK, Pol de [Charles Paul de KOCK]

Monfermelskaia molochnitsa [La Laitière de Montfermeil]

£1,450

KOK, Pol de [Charles Paul de KOCK], Monfermelskaia molochnitsa

First Russian edition, rare, in an attractive copy. A great example of cross-cultural literary exchange at the time of some of the best Russian literature.

Image for F. DOSTOEVSKY, Zapiski iz mertvago doma. First edition, in Russian, St. Petersburg, 1862. #2

An "unsurpassed work of Russian and world literature" (Lenin)

DOSTOEVSKY, Fedor

Zapiski iz mertvago doma [Memoirs from the House of the Dead]

£6,750

DOSTOEVSKY, Fedor, Zapiski iz mertvago doma

First complete edition of Dostoevsky's famous work, here in a contemporary Russian binding and good condition.

Image for KOTLIAREVSKY & BAZYLEVYCH. Eneida. Kyiv, 1971. #2

"The most popular edition [...] by the outstanding Ukrainian artist" (Lebedeva)

KOTLIAREVSKII, Ivan, Anatolii BAZYLEVYCH (artist)

Eneida [Aeneid]

£195

KOTLIAREVSKII, Ivan, Anatolii BAZYLEVYCH (artist), Eneida

"The father of modern Ukrainian literature" in a very visual interpretation during Soviet times, by an important Ukrainian artist. Very rare in the West.

Image for AKHMATOVA, Rekviem, Requiem, first edition, 1963 #2

Celebrated poetical tamizdat

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Rekviem [Requiem]

£750

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Rekviem

First edition of one of Akhmatova's greatest works.. An important tamizdat of one of the best Russian poets; one of 500 copies only.

Image for V. SIRIN [NABOKOV]. Korol, Dama, Valet. First edition, Berlin, 1928. #2

A "bright brute [with an] elaborate and rapturous composition" (Nabokov) - in the original wrappers

SIRIN, V. [pseud. for Vladimir NABOKOV]

Korol, Dama, Valet [King, Queen, Knave]

£2,750

SIRIN, V. [pseud. for Vladimir NABOKOV], Korol, Dama, Valet

Early Nabokov: a pleasant example of the novel's first edition.

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 PUSHKIN & BENOIS. Pikovaia dama, illustrated. Skt. Peterburg, 1911. #3

"Three, seven, ace!"

PUSHKIN, Alexander and Alexandre BENOIS (artist)

Pikovaia Dama [Queen of Spades]

£795

PUSHKIN, Alexander and Alexandre BENOIS (artist), Pikovaia Dama

A novella masterpiece of Russian literature here in a celebrated edition finely illustrated and beautifully produced.

Image for A. AKHMATOVA. Chetki, Belaia Staia, Anno Domini. 3 volumes, 1923. #2

The whole series: Akhmatova's first 'collected works'

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Chetki [with] Belaia staia [with] Anno Domini [Beads [with] White Flock [with] Anno Domini]

£950

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Chetki [with] Belaia staia [with] Anno Domini

Most of Akhmatova's pre-1923 poetry in three matching volumes, including some new publications. Rarely found together in satisfying condition without restoration. With continuous bibliophile provenance and poems added in manuscript.

Image for A. AKHMATOVA. Anno Domini. Peterburg, 1923. #2

First appearance of new poems

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Anno Domini

£125

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Anno Domini

Akhmatova's poetry during the Civil War, here in the first expanded edition.

Image for A. AKHMATOVA. Belaia staia. Third edition, Peterburg, 1922. #2

When she was still allowed in Soviet Union

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Belaia staia [White Flock]

£375

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Belaia staia

Fresh example of this uncommon, early edition of Akhmatova's third book.

Image for A. AKHMATOVA. Belaia staia. Berlin & Peterburg, 1923. #2

First time in Berlin

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Belaia staia [White Flock]

£195

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Belaia staia

The third collection of poetry of Russia's great poetess, here in the first edition to be printed abroad.

Image for AKHMATOVA, A. U samogo moria. First edition, 1921. #2

A Black Sea youth

AKHMATOVA, Anna

U samogo moria [At the Edge of the Sea]

£750

AKHMATOVA, Anna, U samogo moria

The first edition of this important autobiographical poem by one of the best Russian poets, and a victim of Soviet censorship.

Image for N. CHERNISHEVSKII. Chto Delat? First book edition, Geneva, 1867. #2

Women's emancipation, Lenin's reshaping, and "the emotional dynamic" of the Russian revolution

CHERNYSHEVSKII, Nikolai

Chto delat? Iz rasskazov o novykh liudiakh [What Is to Be Done? Tales of New People]

£15,000

CHERNYSHEVSKII, Nikolai, Chto delat? Iz rasskazov o novykh liudiakh

First book edition of this groundbreaking novel, a cornerstone of Russian literature and, by its influence, political thought. A pleasant example in contemporary binding. Very rare.

Image for L. TOLSTOY and A. SEURON. Nikolai Palkin and other works. 1895-1903. #2

Tolstoy's life and thoughts: a gathering of scarce pamphlets

TOLSTOY, Lev Nikolaevich, Anna SEIRON [SEURON] and Nadezhda ZHIVAGO (artist)

Nikolai Palkin. Rabotnik Emelian i pustoi baraban. Dorogo Stoit [BOUND WITH:] Shest let v dome grafa Lva Nikolaievicha Tolstogo [AND WITH:] Assiriiskii tsar Assarkhadon. Tri voprosa [Nikolai "The Beater". Emelian the Worker and the Empty Drum. Too Dear! [BOUND WITH:] Six Years at the Household of the Count Tolstoy [BOUND WITH:] The Assyrian King Assarkhadon. Three questions]

£1,500

TOLSTOY, Lev Nikolaevich, Anna SEIRON [SEURON] and Nadezhda ZHIVAGO (artist), Nikolai Palkin. Rabotnik Emelian i pustoi baraban. Dorogo Stoit [BOUND WITH:] Shest let v dome grafa Lva Nikolaievicha Tolstogo [AND WITH:] Assiriiskii tsar Assarkhadon. Tri voprosa

Banned works, illustrated tales, and memoirs of his household: a fine group of works by and about Tolstoy, most in first editions in Russian.

Image for Burliuk, Exter, Vasilieva, Livshits, Futuristy, inscribed, 1914 #1

Warmly inscribed by Burliuk

BURLIUK, David, Aleksandra EKSTER, Maria VASILIEVA (artists) and Benedict LIVSHITS (author)

Volchie solntse. Kniga stikhov vtoraia [v] "Futuristy" [Sun of wolves. Second book of poetry [in] "Futurists"]

£2,950

BURLIUK, David, Aleksandra EKSTER, Maria VASILIEVA (artists) and Benedict LIVSHITS (author), Volchie solntse. Kniga stikhov vtoraia [v] "Futuristy"

First edition of this collection of futurist poetry, inscribed by Burliuk to "the best customer" Lev Grinkrug. A lovely book, finely illustrated with plates by Burliuk and two famous Russian avant-garde female artists: Exter and Vasilieva.

Image for ALBERT & MEKHITAR. Mec Alpert [Compendium of Theology of St. Albert]. First edition, Venice, 1715-16. #2

Mekhitar of Sebaste arrives in Venice

ALBERT THE GREAT and Mekhitar SEBASTATSI (editor)

Mec Alpert; tʹargmaneceal ʹi vałnǰoucʹ žamanakacʹ, ʹi mecamecacʹ vardapetacʹ merocʹ, ʹi Latʹin lezuē ʹi Hay barbaṙ: Ew nardenis ʹi luys acecʹeal, ew srbagreʹceal.. [Compendium of Theology of St. Albert the Great]

£14,500

ALBERT THE GREAT and Mekhitar SEBASTATSI (editor), Mec Alpert; tʹargmaneceal ʹi vałnǰoucʹ žamanakacʹ, ʹi mecamecacʹ vardapetacʹ merocʹ, ʹi Latʹin lezuē ʹi Hay barbaṙ: Ew nardenis ʹi luys acecʹeal, ew srbagreʹceal..

A very important edition symbolically: the first book printed by Mekhitar in Venice. A fine copy of this rare work - no copy traced in the USA.

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