RUSTAVELI, Shota, Vepxistqaosani, ?Paris, 1943.
The main national epic of Georgia in a very unusual, small-format production, in Georgian, for the Third Reich's "Georgian Legion". An extremely rare edition of Rustaveli's masterpiece, and a fantastic example from the 50 deluxe copies, here in a luxurious binding. Read More
Drawings of Napoleon's Imperial Guard AND Regiments of the Line
LAUDY, Lucien, Drawings of Napoleon's Imperial Guard AND Regiments of the Line, Waterloo, 1909-11].
More than 60 watercolours of Napoleonic uniforms, drawn by a Nopoleon fan who initiated a museum in the house where Napoleon stayed before the final battle of Waterloo. An historical object, finely bound. 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-Nov-62.
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
KAMPE [CAMPE, Joachim Heinrich; and Aleksandr Semenovich SHISHKOV, translator]
Detskaia biblioteka, izdannaia na nemetskom iazyke gospodinom Kampe, a s onago perevedena g. ***
KAMPE [CAMPE, Joachim Heinrich; and Aleksandr Semenovich SHISHKOV, translator], Detskaia biblioteka, izdannaia na nemetskom iazyke gospodinom Kampe, a s onago perevedena g. ***, Skt. Peterburg, [c. 1799].
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! Read More
KRUSENSTERN, Ivan Fedorovich [KRUZENSHTERN]
Wörter-Sammlungen aus den Sprachen einiger Völker des östlichen Asiens und der Nordwest-Küste von Amerika
KRUSENSTERN, Ivan Fedorovich [KRUZENSHTERN], Wörter-Sammlungen aus den Sprachen einiger Völker des östlichen Asiens und der Nordwest-Küste von Amerika, Skt. Peterburg, 1813.
First edition of Kruzenshtern's important study of North Pacific languages, in a superb, very unusual example: very crisp, uncut, in plain temporary wrappers and printed on thicker woven paper. We were unable to trace other such large-paper copies. A rare book on the market: only two copies at auction. Read More
Autograph letter, signed, to "cher Directeur" [Jacques Hébertot]
DIAGHILEV, Serge, Autograph letter, signed, to "cher Directeur" [Jacques Hébertot], Paris, 24-Jun-24.
Very good autograph letter by Diaghilev, the celebrated founder of the Ballets Russes. With his bold signature, which is rarely found. Read More
BLIOKH, Ivan Stanislavovich [also Jan Gotlib BLOCH]
Sravnenie materialnogo byta i nravstvennogo sostoianiia naseleniia v cherte osedlosti evreev i vne ee: tsifrovyia dannyia i izsledovaniia po otnosheniiu k evreiskomu voprosu
BLIOKH, Ivan Stanislavovich [also Jan Gotlib BLOCH], Sravnenie materialnogo byta i nravstvennogo sostoianiia naseleniia v cherte osedlosti evreev i vne ee: tsifrovyia dannyia i izsledovaniia po otnosheniiu k evreiskomu voprosu, Skt. Peterburg, 1889 or 1901].
The condition of the Jewish settlements in the Russian empire: a fascinating analysis -and defence- through a wealth of data and their visual representation. An exceptionally rare Russian book of statistics with a political angle. Read More
Kniga Apokalipsis [...]. Sviatago Andreia Arkhiepiskopa Kesariia Kapadokiiskago skazanie Apokalipsi sviatago Apostala Evangelista Ioanna Bogoslova sokrovennyh otkrovenie
[BIBLE, Slavonic] -, Kniga Apokalipsis [...]. Sviatago Andreia Arkhiepiskopa Kesariia Kapadokiiskago skazanie Apokalipsi sviatago Apostala Evangelista Ioanna Bogoslova sokrovennyh otkrovenie, Moskva, 7418 (i.e. 1909).
A luxury production of the Old Believers' printing press, with gold highlights, very much imitating their richly illustrated manuscripts. Read More
[BRUCE'S CALENDAR], [The Book, Called Bruce's Calendar], Moskva, 1810].
Complete example of an early, fully engraved edition of this famous, richly illustrated civil calendar, with predictions to the 20th century. A fine example with provenance charmingly handwritten. "A great rarity" writes Bitovt. Read More
Reysen durch die Marck Brandenburg, Preussen, Churland, Liefland, Peßcovien, Groß-Naugardien, Tweerien und Moskovien [ ] anbey Eine Seltsame und sehr Anmerckliche Beschreibung von Siberien [ ]
BRAND, Johann Arnold von, Reysen durch die Marck Brandenburg, Preussen, Churland, Liefland, Peßcovien, Groß-Naugardien, Tweerien und Moskovien [
] anbey Eine Seltsame und sehr Anmerckliche Beschreibung von Siberien [
], Duisburg, 1702.
A very rich and overlooked 17th-c. travel account, with quantity of original material on Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Siberia, including music and songs in the vernacular, as well as many engraved plates, especially on amber mining, sable hunting on ski and Easter celebrations in Moscow. A rare Rossica, especially in contemporary binding. Read More
POE, Edgar Allan, and OUYDA [pseud. for Maria Louise RAME]
Izbrannye Razskazy [i] Dozhdlivyy Iyun
POE, Edgar Allan, and OUYDA [pseud. for Maria Louise RAME], Izbrannye Razskazy [i] Dozhdlivyy Iyun, Skt. Peterburg, 1912.
Very rare Poe curiosity, showing on the cover a portrait of....somebody completely different! Together with a short story by a female author. Read More
MIKHAILOV, Kozma Afanasievich and other authors
[A Sammelband of Five Manuscript Works]
MIKHAILOV, Kozma Afanasievich and other authors, [A Sammelband of Five Manuscript Works], Skt. Peterburg, [c. 1782-1815].
Very rare manuscript collection of theological and philosophical texts, including some forbidden by Catherine the Great's government in the 1780s. Very well preserved in its contemporary binding. With a poem authored most likely by the compiler of the manuscript and dedicated to the opening of the bronze horseman, the celebrated monument to Peter the Great inaugurated by Catherine in St. Petersburg. Read More
IAZVINSKII, Aleksandr [actually Anton] Feliksovich
Sinkhronicheskiie tablitsy vseobshchei istorii, ukrashennyie 1500 portretami, sniatymi s medalei, sluzhashchiie k Khronograficheskomu atlasu A. Iazvinskogo
IAZVINSKII, Aleksandr [actually Anton] Feliksovich, Sinkhronicheskiie tablitsy vseobshchei istorii, ukrashennyie 1500 portretami, sniatymi s medalei, sluzhashchiie k Khronograficheskomu atlasu A. Iazvinskogo, Skt. Peterburg, 1840.
Very rare 'atlas' teaching world history without words, purely with images and visual memory: a very innovative teaching method in 19th-c. Russia, Poland, and Europe. Read More