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
CHAGALL, Marc (artist) and Der NISTER [pseud. for Pinchus KAHANOVICH]
A Mayse mit a Hon; Dos Tsigele
CHAGALL, Marc (artist) and Der NISTER [pseud. for Pinchus KAHANOVICH], A Mayse mit a Hon; Dos Tsigele, Petrograd, 1917.
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. Read More
Virgillieva Eneida, na malorossiiskii iazyk prelozhennaia
KOTLIAREVSKII, Ivan Petrovich, Virgillieva Eneida, na malorossiiskii iazyk prelozhennaia, 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
Azbuka v kartinkakh
VATAGIN, Vasilii Alekseevich, Azbuka v kartinkakh, Moskva, 1926.
Charming early Soviet ABC by a noted artist of natural history, in excellent condition and very rare: we could trace only one copy at auction (in Russia) and one in a public library (in Russia too). Read More
GEIER, Ivan Ivanovich, Ot Tashkenta do Gavy, Tashkent, [1895].
A lovely association copy, inscribed by the author to an important Russain official in Turkestan, of a very rare travel account in the heart of Russian Central Asia. An early Uzbek publication containing fascinating details on the economy of the region, especially in the Fergana valley in the Arslanbob mountains, famous for its important walnut forest. Read More
BELZEN, Ia. Ia. (artist), Geroi Smutnogo Vremeni, Berlin, 1921.
Very rare album of full-page satirical illustrations of the situation in Russia during the turbulent years of the Civil War. Published in Berlin in 1921, and particularly remarkbale for its even-handed swipe at all participants in the War. Only three copies traced in Western public institutions. Read More
ZHABOTINSKII, V. (ALTALENA). [also JABOTINSKY], Piatero, Parizh, 1936.
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. 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
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
CHULKOV, Mikhail Dmitrievich, Slovar Russkikh sueverii, Sanktpeterburg, 1782.
An important and very rare work on superstitions and beliefs of the peoples of the Russian empire under Catherine the Great. With captivating paragraphs and descriptions. An attractive example of the first edition. 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
HERVEY, James, and Elizaveta NILOVA (transl.)
Nadgrobnyia razmyshlenia
HERVEY, James, and Elizaveta NILOVA (transl.), Nadgrobnyia razmyshlenia, Moskva, 1782.
First Russian edition of an English 'graveyard' literary work: by a female translator, dedicated to a woman, and later confiscated by Catherine the Great. Very rare. 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