You will find here a selection of items, mostly books, which we are particularly happy and proud to have handled. They can be remarkable for different reasons, sometimes their great rarity, or their fine condition, or their distinguished provenance – or all those together! These beautiful productions of the human mind found their way to discerning, high-quality collections, private as well as public. We hope you’ll enjoy browsing and we remain available for any further information.
First edition of Georgi's observations in Siberia, printed in St. Petersburg. With descriptions of the local peoples and the first account of Japan published in Russia. An excellent copy; rare, with no copies traced on the market in the last 40 years.
![Image for [BARANSHCHIKOV]. Unfortunate adventures... Rare first edition. St. Petersburg, 1787. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2335_1-300x380.jpg)
[BARANSHCHIKOV, Vasilii Iakovlevich] – S. K. R
Neshchastnyia Prikliucheniia [...] v trekh chastiakh sveta: v Amerike, Azii i Evrope s 1780 po 1787 god [Unfortunate Adventures [...] in Three Parts of the World: America, Asia, and Europe, from 1780 to 1787]
What a story! Incredible (but true) adventures of a Russian throughout the world, and as a result an innovative book, probably the first Russian account of South America and the Caribbean, with a wealth of great details. Very rare first edition, with only one copy in the US.
KAMPE [CAMPE, Joachim Heinrich; and Aleksandr Semenovich SHISHKOV, translator]
Detskaia biblioteka.. [Children's library [ie. Kleine Kinderbibliothek]...]
More than a translation, an original adaptation, dedicated to Princess Dahskova, the first woman head of an Academy of Sciences and first female member of the American Philosophical Society. A very rare early edition of this important book for Russian children - and a lovely example with a sewn translation label!
![Image for Ch. PEYSSONEL. Verfassung des Handels auf dem Schwarzem Meer [Black Sea trade]. First German edition, Leipzig, 1788. #3](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2847_1-300x400.jpeg)
PEYSSONEL, Charles de, and Ernst CUHN
Die Verfassung des Handels auf dem Schwarzen Meer [Traité sur le commerce de la Mer Noire]
Very rare first German edition of this major work, with much added material showing a geopolitical angle chosen by the translator, a civil servant for the Prussian 'external affairs'. A beautiful copy, in full morocco with prestigious local provenance.
GONCHAROVA, Natalia (artist) and Alexander RUBAKIN
Gorod. Stikhi. La Cité [The City. Poems]
An excellent example from the 25 copies on china paper ('tirage de tête'), in a binding by one of the best French binders. First edition of this great Russian avant-garde book, finely produced in Paris and showing a wealth of illustrations by Goncharova.
One of the two most important floras of Russia, an impressive publication, here in a fine example with desirable Russian provenances: the Kushelev-Bezborodko - Polovtsev - Krylov copy. First edition, complete of both parts.
[RODCHENKO, Aleksandr (artist)] and Aleksei KRUCHENYKH
Miatezh. Kniga IX [Mutiny. Book IX]
Extremely rare work of the Russian avant-garde, with a unique collage by Rodchenko and Kruchenykh's surrealist poem-tale of "the American Goat". One of about 10 copies only, with just another one traced, in Moscow's State Library.
Large-format Moscow-printed Gospels in an impressive binding, very well preserved and probably from Ukraine/Western Russia. The binding is especially remarkable for its intricate design on both covers, its detailed contemporary provenance, and its appealing condition.
First edition of Solzhenitsyn's magnum opus on the prison camp system and his best work, here in a choice copy inscribed to a leading broadcaster for the BBC Russian service in London.
![Image for [ALASKA]. Act of the Russian-American Company. First complete edition, in Russian. St. Petersburg, 1802. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/795_1-300x249.jpg)
An exceptional document pertaining to the history of Alaska, of greatest rarity and here in fantastic condition.
An exceptional example of these regulations negotiated with the Ottoman Empire for one of its regions. This copy is signed twice by all negotiators, and belonged to one of their secretaries. Very rare.
Beautiful, richly illustrated Old-Believer manuscript, with an unusual style and unusual pinholes in the images. A fine item in its first binding.
Major study of ancient artefacts found in central Ukraine and down to the Black Sea. An impressive production, both scientific and beautiful, and very rare complete of all issues.
BURTSOV, Vasilii (also BURTSEV)
[Bukvar] Nachalne uchenie ch[e]l[o]v[e]kom khotiashchim razumeti bozh[es]tvenago pisaniia [ABC, or Primer]
The first primer printed in Russia, first edition, in a great, complete example almost without restoration, and in its contemporary binding allowing generous margins showing an extremely rare typographic sign. A great rarity, with only one copy in public libraries outside Russia.
Great example of possibly the greatest Ukrainian ABC.
An interesting and very unusual item: a samizdat copy of Akhmatova's masterpiece, bound in the poetess' dress, with a lengthy inscription detailing part of the provenance.