Fresh example of this important Russian flora, one of the very first published in Russia, showing and describing many species for the first time. First edition.
LEVCHINE, Alexis de [Aleksei Iraklevich LEVSHIN, also LIOVSHIN]
Description des hordes et des steppes des Kirghiz-Kazaks ou Kirghiz-Kaïssaks
The first extensive study of the people of Kazakhstan: first French edition, with the same illustrations as the original Russian edition; including a folding map of the area, which was very rare at the time. This is the copy which belonged to 'Le Baron de Barante', the dedicatee of the translation.
PLESCHEEF, Sergey (also Sergei MESHKOV-PLESHCHEEV) and James SMIRNOVE (transl.)
Survey of the Russian Empire
Fine, unusual copy of this first english edition of the most accurate description of the Russian empire at the end of Catherine the Great's reign. Usually black & white: but this copy with bold, vivid contemporary hand-colour.
BEREZIN, Ilia and Georgii GOGENFELDEN (artist)
Puteshestvie po Dagestanu i Zakavkaziu [Journey through Dagestan and Transcaucasia]
Important, detailed account of nowadays Dagestan and Azerbaijan, with fine observations and 14 plates, published in Kazan. Scarce: no copy at auction and only 4 in institutions.
VASNETSOV, Viktor (artist) and Aleksandr PUSHKIN
Pesn o Veshchem Olege [The Song of Wise Oleg]
A famous work, here in the unusual large, folio format, rarer than the first edition (which was a quarto).
![Image for C. de BRUIN [LE BRUN]. Reizen over Moskovie. Amsterdam, 1714. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2005_1-300x225.jpg)
One of the great accounts of Russia under Peter the Great, as well as Persia, especially remarkable for the wealth of illustrations. Here in a beautifully fresh example of this Dutch edition.
![Image for ASHIK, A. Vosporskoe tsarstvo [Bosphorus Kingdom], first edition, Odessa, 1848-9. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1921_1-300x332.jpg)
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 [BIBLE, Slavonic]. Evangelie [Gospels]. First edition under Catherine the Great. Complete. Moscow, 1762. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2868_1-300x233.jpg)
[BIBLE, Slavonic] – Vailei IKONNIKOV (engraver) and Semen VTOROV (artist)
Evangelie [Gospels]
Very rare, with no copy traced outside Russia, and only two there. First separate edition of the Church Slavonic Gospels published under Catherine's reign, illustrated, complete and in a lovely, fragile velvet binding.
CHAPPE D’AUTEROCHE, Jean-Baptiste and Stepan Petrovich KRASHENINNIKOV
Voyage en Sibérie, fait par ordre du Roi en 1761; contenant les moeurs, les usages des Russes, et l'etat actuel de cette puissance [and] contenant la description du Kamchatka
A very fresh copy of the first edition of one of the great French travels abroad, and a classic representative of French 18th-century publishing, with many artistic illustrations, engraved maps, and high quality printing. With a wealth of details on Russian, Siberia, the Russian Far East, including Kamchatka and the Northern Pacific.
[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.
![Image for N. PUNIN & P. MITURICH. Skaz gramotnykh detiam [Tale for Literate Children]. First edition of this very rare Russian children book; inscribed. Moscow, 1919 #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2993_1-300x324.jpg)
PUNIN, Nikolai and P[etr] MITURICH (artist)
Skaz gramotnykh detiam [Tale for Literate Children]
A book like we love them: with many different interesting aspects, from the beautiful gold illlustrations, and the research principle at their source, to the 'missed propaganga' theme of the tale and the tragic fate of his author, Akhmatova's husband, who here added a fine handwritten inscription to the copy. Just fantastic.
KONASHEVICH, Vladimir (artist) and Evgeniia SOLOVEVA
Rozovaia azbuka [Rose (also Pink) ABC]
Only edition of this fine, large-format primer detailing the new Soviet orthography of Russian, illustrated by a master of the genre. A fragile production just after the Russian revolution, and a rare edition.
![Image for I. BILIBIN. Sakzki [Six Volumes of Russian Folk Tales]. First editions. St. Petersburg, 1901-1903 #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2878_1-300x386.jpg)
![Image for BLOK & ANNENKOV. Dvenadsta [The Twelve]. First edition. St. Petersburg, 1918. #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2128_1-300x381.jpg)
![Image for [FLOWERS - GAMES - ROMANOVS]. Oracles de Flore. From Tsarskoe Selo library. Paris, 1825 #2](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3036_1-300x400.jpg)
DEL., C. F. P. [Charles-François-Paul DELANGLARD or Charlotte de LATOUR]
Oracles de Flore
A fine example of this lovely edition, here in fresh, attractive condition with Russian imperial provenance. With 36 flowers on 6 plates, with original hand-colour.
