Literature: Russian and neighbours

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

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

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 fine condition without restoration. With 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 SHAKESPEARE & A. SOKOLOVSKII. Midsummer Night's Dream & Julius Caesar in Russian translations. St. Petersburg, 1885. #2

Two-in-one

SHEKSPIR, Uilliam [William SHAKESPEARE] and Aleksandr SOKOLOVSKII (translator)

Son v letniuiu noch [bound with] Iulii Tsezar [A Midsummer Night's Dream [bound with] Julius Caesar]

£2,500

SHEKSPIR, Uilliam [William SHAKESPEARE] and Aleksandr SOKOLOVSKII (translator), Son v letniuiu noch [bound with] Iulii Tsezar

Two first editions in one volume, by the man who translated all Shakespeare's significant plays for the first time. A pleasant example of this rarity: no other copy traced outside Russia.

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.

Image for TSVETAEVA, M. Razluka, first edition. Berlin, 1922. #2

Partially unopened, in the publisher's boards

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna

Razluka [Separation]

£1,500

TSVETAEVA, Marina Ivanovna, Razluka

An attractive example of this fragile production, Tsvetaeva's first poetry collection published abroad. First edition.

Image for PARNOK, S. Vpolgolosa, first edition, inscribed. Moscow, 1928. #2

"Russia's Sapho" and her circle of female friends

PARNOK, Sofiia

Vpolgolosa. Stkihi 1926-1927 [Half-Whispered. Poems 1926-1927]

£4,250

PARNOK, Sofiia, Vpolgolosa. Stkihi 1926-1927

An inscribed copy of Parnok's last collection of verses: a very rare work by a Russian woman standing out in the literary landscape of the country.

Image for NABOKOV, BLOK, TEFFI, REMIZOV etc. Rodnaia Zemlia. Complete first edition, 1920-21. #2

Very early publication by Nabokov

[NABOKOV, Vladimir, A. BLOK, TEFFI, A. REMIZOV and others]

Rodnaia Zemlia, Sbornik 1-2 [The Native Land; First [and] Second Collection]

£1,650

[NABOKOV, Vladimir, A. BLOK, TEFFI, A. REMIZOV and others], Rodnaia Zemlia, Sbornik 1-2

Possibly the earliest appearance of Nabokov in the West - together with several works many other important authors. A fine example in original wrappers.

Image for PASTERNAK, B. Doktor Zhivago. Ann Arbor, 1959. #3

The first edition in Russian after the Nobel Prize award

PASTERNAK, Boris

Doktor Zhivago [Doctor Zhivago]

£1,250

PASTERNAK, Boris, Doktor Zhivago

First printing of the first "legal" Russian edition of this famous Nobel Prize winner. A lovely copy of Pasternak's masterpiece.

Image for GOGOL. Mertvie dushi [Dead Souls]. First edition. Moscow, 1842 #2

Gogol's masterpiece with "All of Russia"

GOGOL, Nikolai

Pokhozhdeniia Chichikova, ili Mertvyia dushi. Poema [The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls. A Poem]

£39,500

GOGOL, Nikolai, Pokhozhdeniia Chichikova, ili Mertvyia dushi. Poema

A pinacle of humour and Russia's second great novel (after Lermontov's 'Hero of our Times'), here in a fine example of the first edition, with the very rare and famous upper wrapper.

Image for VOLOSHIN, M. Poems in samizdat, inscribed. Ca. 1961. #2

With a poetic inscription and edits by guardian of the poet's legacy

VOLOSHIN, Maksimilian

[Poetry in Samizdat]

£950

VOLOSHIN, Maksimilian, [Poetry in Samizdat]

Lovely collection of Voloshin's poems, inscribed by his widow to a fellow writer.

Image for PASTERNAK, B. Doktor Zhivago, excerpts. 1958-59 #2

Ideal from smuggling into the USSR

PASTERNAK, Boris

Doktor Zhivago v vyderzhkakh i poyasneniyakh, opublikovannykh v yezhenedel'nike Posev №№ 46, 47, 48 i 49 za 1958 g [Doctor Zhivago in Excerpts and Explanations]

£395

PASTERNAK, Boris, Doktor Zhivago v vyderzhkakh i poyasneniyakh, opublikovannykh v yezhenedel'nike Posev №№ 46, 47, 48 i 49 za 1958 g

A scarce, very early pamphlet with important excerpts from Pasternak's celebrated novel - banned in the USSR and published here with help of the CIA.

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.

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