Very rare books Keywords | PY Rare Books

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Image for NASH VESTNIK. Manuscript magazine, unique copy. Soviet Union, 1921-23. #2

Fun, absurd, art and sport in the first years of the URSS

BABKIN K., M. NEKRASOV, A. ALEKSANDROV, V. SVETLISHIN and others

Nash Vestnik. Literaturno-sportivnyi zhurnal Kruzhka Fizicheskogo Razvitiia KFR [Our Newsletter. Literary and Sports Magazine of the Physical Development Club]

£13,500

BABKIN K., M. NEKRASOV, A. ALEKSANDROV, V. SVETLISHIN and others, Nash Vestnik. Literaturno-sportivnyi zhurnal Kruzhka Fizicheskogo Razvitiia KFR

Exceptional manuscript describing sporting and other recreative activities in a small town of Russia immediately after the Civil War. A very entertaining read, mixing much information with humour and many illustrations.

Image for N. CHERNISHEVSKII. Chto Delat? First book edition, Geneva, 1867. #2

Women's emancipation, Lenin's reshaping, and "the emotional dynamic" of the Russian revolution

CHERNYSHEVSKII, Nikolai

Chto delat? Iz rasskazov o novykh liudiakh [What Is to Be Done? Tales of New People]

£15,000

CHERNYSHEVSKII, Nikolai, Chto delat? Iz rasskazov o novykh liudiakh

First book edition of this groundbreaking novel, a cornerstone of Russian literature and, by its influence, political thought. A pleasant example in contemporary binding. Very rare.

Image for SHAKESPEARE & A. SOKOLOVSKII. Midsummer Night's Dream & Julius Caesar in Russian translations. St. Petersburg, 1885. #2

Two-in-one

SHEKSPIR, Uilliam [William SHAKESPEARE] and Aleksandr SOKOLOVSKII (translator)

Son v letniuiu noch [bound with] Iulii Tsezar [A Midsummer Night's Dream [bound with] Julius Caesar]

£2,500

SHEKSPIR, Uilliam [William SHAKESPEARE] and Aleksandr SOKOLOVSKII (translator), Son v letniuiu noch [bound with] Iulii Tsezar

Two first editions in one volume, by the man who translated all Shakespeare's significant plays for the first time. A pleasant example of this rarity: no other copy traced outside Russia.

Image for Gd Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich ROMANOV. Musical Sketches, Potpurri. Manuscript, 1888. #2

La Marseillaise, European operas, and romantic Russian songs

[ROMANOV, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich] – TSVETKOV M. and Vasilii KITAEV (artist)

Muzykalnyia stsenki. Popuri [Musical Sketches. Potpourri]

£8,750

[ROMANOV, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich] - TSVETKOV M. and Vasilii KITAEV (artist), Muzykalnyia stsenki. Popuri

An interesting compilation of various international and Russian music, all manuscript, with a lovely watercolour title page and all kept in a refined master binding: a very attractive imperial portfolio made for the Grand Duke. Very rare.

Image for E. FILIPOVSKII. Smert Marii Stuart... First edition, Moscow, 1803. #1

European cross-cultural publication

FILIPOVSKII, Efrem

Smert Marii Stuart, korolevy Shotlandskoi.. [The Death of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots […]: historical description illustrated with seven prints engraved after English originals […]]

£4,750

FILIPOVSKII, Efrem, Smert Marii Stuart, korolevy Shotlandskoi..

Complete copy of this bibliographical rarity, a charming book with skilfully engraved plates, and a great witness of cultural exchanges in Europe and Russia in the early 19th century. No copy traced in libraries outside Russia.

Image for PROTASOV, N. Siberian folk songs. First edition, 1902. #2

Siberian singing

PROTASOV, Nikolai Petrovich

20 narodnykh pesen Sibiri dlia odnogo golosa s soprovozhdeniem fortepiano [20 Siberian Folk-Songs for Solo Voice with Piano Accompaniment]

£375

PROTASOV, Nikolai Petrovich, 20 narodnykh pesen Sibiri dlia odnogo golosa s soprovozhdeniem fortepiano

Rare etnographic musical work, a record of popular songs from Siberia, with the attractively decorated wrapper. First edition.

Image for J. WICHSELL. Description of Russia in Swedish. First edition, Stockholm, 1706. #2

A censored work - in amazing condition

[WICHSELL, Jöran]

Beskrifning om Rysslands Belägenhet/ Gräntzor/ Landskaper/ Städer/ Styrelse/ Macht/ Plägseder och andra Beskaffenheter nu för tijden

£2,950

[WICHSELL, Jöran], Beskrifning om Rysslands Belägenhet/ Gräntzor/ Landskaper/ Städer/ Styrelse/ Macht/ Plägseder och andra Beskaffenheter nu för tijden

An exceptionnal example, uncut, unopened and unbound, of a banned and later destroyed account of Peter the Great's Russia. First edition, rare.

Image for [TRETYAKOV GALLERY] Very rare portfolio, Geneva, 1890s. #2

No other copy traced

[RUSSIAN ART] –

Khudozhestvennaia galereia P. i S. Tretiakovykh [The Art Gallery of P. and S. Tretyakov]

£1,500

[RUSSIAN ART] -, Khudozhestvennaia galereia P. i S. Tretiakovykh

Fine, high-quality production showing some of the most famous Russian paintings. An extremely rare Geneva publication.

From amber mining to sable hunting on ski

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 […]

£4,250

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 […]

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.

Image for TUMANSKII, F. Peter the Great. Rare first edition, St. Petersburg, 1788. #2

Peter's early days: a scarce, illustrated edition

TUMANSKII, Fedor

Polnoe opisanie deianii ego velichestva gosudaria imperatora Petra Velikago [A Complete Description of the Deeds of Peter the Great]

£5,950

TUMANSKII, Fedor, Polnoe opisanie deianii ego velichestva gosudaria imperatora Petra Velikago

An early Russian biography of Peter the Great, illustrated and noted for its rarity. Pleasant example in contemporary binding.

Image for EPSTEIN & ROIKHEL. Mayselakh/Tales. First edition, Kyiv, 1922. #1

Yiddish Avant-Garde for children

EPSTEIN, Mark (artist) and David ROIKHEL

Mayselakh [Tales]

£4,250

EPSTEIN, Mark (artist) and David ROIKHEL, Mayselakh

One of the great productions of the Russo-Jewish avant-garde group 'Kultur Liga', in its early Kyiv's days. Rare children book in Yiddish with many cubist illustrations.

Image for LINSKII, DRIZO, AVERCHENKO... Bich - Bitche. Complete set, first edition. Paris, 1920. #2

Colourful satire by Odessans in Paris

LINSKII, Mikhail, Mikhail DRIZO (pseud. MAD), Arkadii AVERCHENKO and others

Bich. Bitche [Whip]

£2,250

LINSKII, Mikhail, Mikhail DRIZO (pseud. MAD), Arkadii AVERCHENKO and others, Bich. Bitche

Complete set of this scarce satirical periodical of the Russophone community in Paris. With a wealth of caricatural drawings and wide-ranging texts.

Image for ALBERT & MEKHITAR. Mec Alpert [Compendium of Theology of St. Albert]. First edition, Venice, 1715-16. #2

Mekhitar of Sebaste arrives in Venice

ALBERT THE GREAT and Mekhitar SEBASTATSI (editor)

Mec Alpert; tʹargmaneceal ʹi vałnǰoucʹ žamanakacʹ, ʹi mecamecacʹ vardapetacʹ merocʹ, ʹi Latʹin lezuē ʹi Hay barbaṙ: Ew nardenis ʹi luys acecʹeal, ew srbagreʹceal.. [Compendium of Theology of St. Albert the Great]

£14,500

ALBERT THE GREAT and Mekhitar SEBASTATSI (editor), Mec Alpert; tʹargmaneceal ʹi vałnǰoucʹ žamanakacʹ, ʹi mecamecacʹ vardapetacʹ merocʹ, ʹi Latʹin lezuē ʹi Hay barbaṙ: Ew nardenis ʹi luys acecʹeal, ew srbagreʹceal..

A very important edition symbolically: the first book printed by Mekhitar in Venice. A fine copy of this rare work - no copy traced in the USA.

Image for ST. PETERSBURG. Address book of the Exchange. 1863. #2

Who's who of one of Russia's main business centres

[SAINT-PETERSBURG] –

Adresnaia kniga Sankt-Peterburgskogo birzhevogo kupechestva, birzhevykh maklerov i brakovshchikov pri Sankt-Peterburgskom porte [Address Book of Saint Petersburg Exchange Merchants, Brokers and Inspectors at the Saint Petersburg Port]

£1,500

[SAINT-PETERSBURG] –, Adresnaia kniga Sankt-Peterburgskogo birzhevogo kupechestva, birzhevykh maklerov i brakovshchikov pri Sankt-Peterburgskom porte

Fine example, in the original boards, of this very rare inventory of the main business actors in Saint Petersburg, the Russian capital, under Tsar Alexander II. No other copy traced outside Russia.

Image for BARSKIY Y. Anti-Alcohol pamphlet in Ukrainian. Kharkiv, 1930. #2

Half their wages into alcohol

Chi dodae sili alkogol? [Does Alcohol Give Strength?]

£350

BARSKIY Y. A, Chi dodae sili alkogol?

Great example of Soviet health propaganda, trying to make Ukrainians more sober. Very rare.

Image for SHANKOVSKY, L. Istoriia UPA. Rare samizdat. #2

Dangerous illegal printing in Soviet Ukraine

[SHANKOVSKY, Lev]

Istoriia UPA [History of the UPA]

£475

[SHANKOVSKY, Lev], Istoriia UPA

Rare example of a Ukrainian samizdat, focusing on the history of its now famous resistance group.

Image for Armenian Bible, edited by H. ZOHRAPIAN. First edition, 4 volumes, complete. Venice, 1805 #2

"One does not have to go very far to gain an immense appreciation for the magnitude of Zohrapian's contribution" (Cox)

[ARMENIAN BIBLE] – ZOHRAPIAN, Hovhannes (editor)

A[stuats]ashunch' matean hin ew nor ktakaranats' ěst chshgrit t'argmanu[t']ean nakhneats' merots' i hellenakann hawatarmagoyn bnagrē i haykakans barbaṛ hashkhatasirut'[en]ē Hovhannu Zōhrapean [Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. Edited with critical notes and introduction by Hovhannes Zohrapean. With prefaces to each book and an appendix of Apocryphal writings]

£4,250

[ARMENIAN BIBLE] - ZOHRAPIAN, Hovhannes (editor), A[stuats]ashunch' matean hin ew nor ktakaranats' ěst chshgrit t'argmanu[t']ean nakhneats' merots' i hellenakann hawatarmagoyn bnagrē i haykakans barbaṛ hashkhatasirut'[en]ē Hovhannu Zōhrapean

A landmark edition of the Armenian Bible, in a pleasant example. Rarely found.

Image for GEORGI, J.G. Merkwürdigkeiten verschiedener unbekannten Völker des Russischen Reichs. 1777, First edition. #2

From shamanism to planting seeds in Kamchatka

GEORGI, Johann Gottlieb

Merkwürdigkeiten verschiedener unbekannten Völker des Russischen Reichs

£1,750

GEORGI, Johann Gottlieb, Merkwürdigkeiten verschiedener unbekannten Völker des Russischen Reichs

Some of the first systematic ethnographic observations of peoples of Russia, here focusing on Siberian and Far Eastern peoples. An edition rarely found, with plates and a map. Lovely copy in fine condition.

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