Odessa | PY Rare Books

Image for RUSSIAN TALES: The Mitten; The Turnip. First edition in the original Russian. Odessa, 1919 #2

Children readings in war times

Rukavichka. Repka. Russkiia Skazki [Russian Tales: The Mitten. The Turnip]

T-vo Bessarabskoe knigoizdatelstvo, Odessa, 1919. £550

A lovely, fragile production of this short-lived publishing house from Kishinev and Odessa. Very rare as we could locate onoly two copies outside Russia. Published in 1919 - a tormented year for Odessa.

Image for ASHIK, A. Vosporskoe tsarstvo [Bosphorus Kingdom], first edition, Odessa, 1848-9. #2

Crimean Greek antiquities in red morocco

ASHIK, Anton Baltazarovich

Vosporskoe tsarstvo s ego paleograficheskimi i nadgrobnymi pamiatnikami, raspisnymi vazami, planami, kartami i vidami [The Bosphorus Kingdom and its Palaeographic Monuments and Tombstones, Painted Vases, Plans, Maps and Views]

T. Neiman, Odessa, 1848-1849. £4,750

The first significant work on the Greek antiquities on the Black Sea shores. A complete copy of this famous archeological book finely produced in Odessa, here in a luxurious binding. With unusual provenance.

Image for JABOTINSKY, V. Piatero, rare first edition in original Russian, 1936. #2

Odessa sung by her celebrated Zionist son

ZHABOTINSKII, V. (ALTALENA) [also JABOTINSKY]

Piatero [The Five]

Parizh, Ars, 1936. £4,950

Very rare first edition of Jabotinsky's best novel: one of 75 copies on papier Japon, out of a total printrun of only 125 copies. A fine novel about Jabotinsky's native city in Ukraine, Odessa, far from his important Zionist militant activities. In original Russian.

Image for G. de CASTELNAU. Essai sur...la Nouvelle Russie. First edition of this book on southern Ukraine. Paris, 1820. #2

First extensive original French work on Ukraine since Beauplan

CASTELNAU, Gabriel de

Essai sur l'histoire ancienne et moderne de la Nouvelle Russie: Statistique des provinces qui la composent: Fondation d'Odessa, ses progrès, son état actuel, détails sur son commerce: Voyage en Crimée, dans l'intérêt de l'agriculture et du commerce

Crapelet for Rey and Gravier, Paris, 1820. £1,150

First edition of this major, relatively early work on southern Ukraine, Odessa and Crimea; complete with engraved views and maps. A pleasant copy in attractive condition.