LORENS, D. G. [D. H. LAWRENCE] and Tatiana LESHCHENKO (transl.)
Liubovnik ledi Chatterlei
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
[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
[PUSHKIN] – Alexandre POUCHKINE, Véra STARKOFF (transl.) and Marie EGOROFF (artist)
Rouslane et Ludmile
[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
MILLER, Genri [Henry] and Georgii EGOROV (transl.)
Tropik raka
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
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
Volshebnyi fonar. Vtoraia kniga stikhov
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
Vozdushnye Puti
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
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
Typed letter signed ('Anna Akhmatova') to Boris Tarasov ('Dear Boris Aleksandrovich')
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
Bisavriuk, ili vecher nakanune Ivana-Kupala
GOGOL, Nikolai Vasilevich, Bisavriuk, ili vecher nakanune Ivana-Kupala,Pavel Svinin, Skt Peterburg , 1830.
First publication of the first prose work of the young Gogol, one of the greatest Russian authors. Very rare outside Russia and Ukraine. Read More
Virgillieva Eneida, na malorossiiskii iazyk prelozhennaia
KOTLIAREVSKII, Ivan Petrovich, Virgillieva Eneida, na malorossiiskii iazyk prelozhennaia,Meditsinskaia tip., Skt Peterburg , 1809.
The first literary work wholly written in modern Ukrainian: a important edition of the main book written by "the father of modern Ukrainian literature" (Encycl. Britannica). This is the first edition authorised by the author and the first to include 4 parts, with a dictionnary of more than 1000 Ukrainian words. A very rare book: only two copies in WorldCat and no copy traced outside Russia and Ukraine in recent decades. Read More
[LENIN, pseud.:] Vladimir ILYN [pseud. for Vladimir Ilyich ULIANOV]
Razvitie kapitalizma v Rossii. Protsess obrazovaniia vnutrenniago rynka dlia krupnoi promyshlennosti
[LENIN, pseud.:] Vladimir ILYN [pseud. for Vladimir Ilyich ULIANOV], Razvitie kapitalizma v Rossii. Protsess obrazovaniia vnutrenniago rynka dlia krupnoi promyshlennosti,A. Leifert, Skt. Peterburg , 1899.
First edition of Lenin's first substantial work, and one of his first two books published in 1899. A landmark economic analysis. Read More