First edition of this very first 'old testament' in Ossetian. A fine example, in wrappers and inscribed by the author to an important local missionary. Very rare, with only one other copy traced (Denmark).
Interesting and rare St. Petersburg edition on Ottoman Turkish, with impressive plates of Ottoman documents. Only 2 copies traced outside Russia.
![Image for [J.G. SPARWENFELD]. Placzewnaja recz... First edition, Stockholm, 1697. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3138_1-300x375.jpg)
An extremely rare and very intriguing publication, mixing Russian language, Latin types and Swedish political agenda at the end of the 17th century - just before the wars of Peter the Great and Charles XII. Apparently no copy in Russia; this being the second or third copy traced. A fine example.
![Image for [GASTRONOMY] - Broadside of Chinese teas available at Marinin's shops. St. Petersburg, 1843. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/307_1-300x213.jpg)
Extremely rare broadside boasting "the all-best" teas from China available at a merchant's in St. Petersburg. The poster contains much interesting information and is illustrated with many Asian scenes. Very fragile but in very good condition.
EPIKTIT [EPICTETUS], Kevit Fiveiskii [CEBES of Thebes] and Grigorii POLETIKA (translator)
Epiktita stoicheskago filosofa Enkhiridion i Apofoegmy i Kevita Fiveiskago Kartina ili Izobrazhenie zhitiia chelovecheskago [Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher's Enchiridion and Apothegms; and The Picture, or a Representation of the Life of Man, by Cebes of Thebes]
An important edition: the first of Epictetus and Cebes in Russia, and one of the first translations of Greek into Russian. Very rare: no copy traced outside Russia.
[PUSHKIN] – Alexandre POUCHKINE, Véra STARKOFF (transl.) and Marie EGOROFF (artist)
Rouslane et Ludmile
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.
CHAGALL, Marc (artist) and Der NISTER [pseud. for Pinchus KAHANOVICH]
A Mayse mit a Hon; Dos Tsigele [A Story About a Rooster [and] The Little Goat]
Chagall's first illustrated book, his only children book, and a landmark of Yiddish book illustration, published the year of the Russian revolution. Very rare, especially in this very good condition: about 5 other copies known.
MEKSIN, Iakov, Nina SAKULINA, and Aleksandr MOGILEVSKII (artist)
Vystavka detskoi knigi i detskogo tvorchestva Iaponii [An Exhibition of Japanese Children Books and Art Work]
Uncommon booklet presenting a very early cultural exchange between Japan and the USSR, centred on children books. A lovely item, here in very good condition in spite of its fragility.
GENKEL, German and Nikolai SUETIN (artist)
Ford i fordizm: vpechatleniia [Ford and Fordism: Impressions]
Fine cover for one of the great Russian books on the influential American industrialist. Uncommon, and here in a pleasant example.
The luxuriously crafted first edition of Prince Gagarin's study of medieval Russian and Byzantine ornaments, mostly taken from manuscripts and architectural landmarks. A complete copy.
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.
Complete copy of this bibliographical rarity, a charming book with skilfully engraved plates, and a great witness of cultural exchanges in Europe and Russia in the early 19th century. No copies traced in libraries outside Russia.
[DICKENS] – PLESHCHEEV, Aleksei Nikolaevich
Zhizn Dikkensa [The Life of Dickens]
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.
A fascinating multi-cultural work, from Ireland and the UK to France and Romania - in a fine, large-paper example inscribed by the author, a relative of Napoleon. Very rare.
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.
[GERNING] – SCHÜTZ, Christian Georg (artist) and Jose Joaquin MORA
Viage pintoresco por las orillas del Rin, desde Maguncia hasta colonia
Exceptionally rare edition in Spanish of one of the most successful illustrated books of the time, specifically conceived for the South American market. A beautiful copy.
LOMONOSOV, Mikhail Vasilievich, Vasilii Kirillovich TREDIAKOVSKII and Alexander Petrovich SUMAROKOV
Choix des meilleurs morceaux de la littérature russe, à dater de sa naissance jusqu'au règne de Catherine II
Attractive example of the first French anthology of Russian literature, with some of the best authors of the 18th century.
How to get by in St. Petersburg in (phonetic) Russian during Pushkin's time: a great guide for the higher society. Uncommon.