Very rare books Keywords| Page 3 of 5 | PY Rare Books

Showing 37–54 of 82 results

Image for Fletcher, Of the Russe Commonwealth, first Russian book edition, very rare. Geneva, Kasatkin, 1867. #1

Banned Russian edition of a banned English book

FLETCHER, Dzhails [Giles]

O gosudarstve russkom, ili Obraz pravleniia russkago tsaria (obyknovenno nazyvaemago tsarem moskovskim). S opisaniiem nravov i obychaev zhitelei etoi strany [Of the Rvsse Common Wealth: Of the Russian State, or the Manner of Government of the Russian Emperor]

£6,750

FLETCHER, Dzhails [Giles], O gosudarstve russkom, ili Obraz pravleniia russkago tsaria (obyknovenno nazyvaemago tsarem moskovskim). S opisaniiem nravov i obychaev zhitelei etoi strany

First Russian book edition -banned- of Fletcher's famous -and banned- description of Russia which first appeared in 1591. A very rare edition, printed in Geneva by Russian revolutionaries, in a fine, fresh example.

Image for SKRINNIKOV, The Science of the Horse, very rare first edition, in Russian, Warsaw, 1866-67 #2

How to understand horses: no copy traced

SKRINNIKOV, Mikhail

Ippologiia, ili Nauka o loshadi. Chast I-II [Hippology, or The Science of the Horse. Parts I-II]

£1,950

SKRINNIKOV, Mikhail, Ippologiia, ili Nauka o loshadi. Chast I-II

First edition of this influential Russian work on horse education and hippiatry, illustrated with 3 plates. Very rare: no copy traced on the market nor in libraries.

Image for Kampe and Shishkov, Detskaia biblioteka, Skt. Peterburg, 1799-1800 #1

Important early book for Russian children - with a sewn translation label

KAMPE [CAMPE, Joachim Heinrich; and Aleksandr Semenovich SHISHKOV, translator]

Detskaia biblioteka, izdannaia na nemetskom iazyke gospodinom Kampe, a s onago perevedena g. *** [Children's library [ie. Kleine Kinderbibliothek], published in German by Mr. Campe, and translated by M. ***].

£3,950

KAMPE [CAMPE, Joachim Heinrich; and Aleksandr Semenovich SHISHKOV, translator], Detskaia biblioteka, izdannaia na nemetskom iazyke gospodinom Kampe, a s onago perevedena g. ***

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!

Image for FIDLER, Slovo...Borisu Fedorovichu Godunovu, St. Petersburg, 1773. First edition, with provenance. #2

From Catherine the Great's library

FIDLER, Konstantin [also FIEDLER]

Slovo pokhvalnoe velikomu gosudariu Borisu Fedorovichu Godunovu [Eulogy to the Great Tsar Boris Fedorovich Godunov]

£5,750

FIDLER, Konstantin [also FIEDLER], Slovo pokhvalnoe velikomu gosudariu Borisu Fedorovichu Godunovu

Very rare first edition in Russian of this praise of Boris Godunov, with great and unusual provenance: Catherine the Great and Smirdin's famous lending library. A lovely example.

Image for Geier, Tashkent to Gava, Russian Central Asia, first edition, inscribed #1

The Great Game and Central Asian walnuts

GEIER, Ivan Ivanovich

Ot Tashkenta do Gavy [From Tashkent to Gava]

£1,950

GEIER, Ivan Ivanovich, Ot Tashkenta do Gavy

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.

Image for BELZEN, Geroi Smutnogo Vremeni, album of Russian caricatures of the Civil War, Berlin, 1921. #2

Large political caricatures of a troubled year

BELZEN, Ia. Ia. (artist)

Geroi Smutnogo Vremeni [Heroes of Troubled Times]

£1,950

BELZEN, Ia. Ia. (artist), Geroi Smutnogo Vremeni

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.

Image for DECEMBRISTS: Report of the Warsaw Investigation Committee [= Donesenie], 1826 #1

The failed revolt - very rare

Donesenie Varshavskogo komiteta [Report of the Warsaw Investigation Committee]

£3,750

[DECEMBRISTS], Donesenie Varshavskogo komiteta

Very rare first edition of this important report on the Decembrists' revoltof the end of 1825. A lovely copy with contemporary provenance. Only one example traced outside Russia.

Image for AKHMATOVA. Poema bez geroia. Samizdat in unusual binding. c. 1968. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Great Akhmatova's memorabilia

AKHMATOVA, Anna

Poema bez Geroia. Triptikh. 1940-1962. Leningrad-Tashkent-Moskva [Poem Without a Hero. Triptych. 1940-1962. Leningrad-Tashkent-Moscow]

AKHMATOVA, Anna, Poema bez Geroia. Triptikh. 1940-1962. Leningrad-Tashkent-Moskva

An interesting and very unusual item: a samizdat copy of Akhmatova's masterpiece, bound in the poetess' dress, with a lengthy inscription detailing part of the provenance.

Image for M. BULGAKOV. Adam & Eva. First version, samizdat, 1960s-70s. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Never published in his lifetime

BULGAKOV, Mikhail

Adam i Eva. Piesa v 4 aktakh [Adam and Eve. A play in 4 acts]

BULGAKOV, Mikhail, Adam i Eva. Piesa v 4 aktakh

The very first, Bulgakov's own version of his dystopian play, here in an attractive, unusual samizdat.

Image for SHAKESPEARE & GOLDBERG, Romeo and Juliette in Yiddish, first edition, Minsk, 1935; inscribed. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

First in Yiddish - inscribed

SHAKESPEARE, William and I. GOLDBERG (translator)

Romeo un Zshulyete: tragedya in finf aktn [Romeo and Juliet: the Tragedy in Five Acts]

SHAKESPEARE, William and I. GOLDBERG (translator), Romeo un Zshulyete: tragedya in finf aktn

Lovely example of a rare book: the first 'Romeo and Juliet' published in Yiddish, here in fine condition and inscribed by the translator to a famous Yiddish author and professor.

Image for Procession funèbre [...] du corps de feu l'Empereur Alexandre I. Lithographed roll, first edition, 1826. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Unexpected early use of lithography in Russia - for an "an extremely tedious enterprise"

Procession funèbre qui doit avoir lieu lors de la translation du corps de feu l'Empereur Alexandre I, de glorieuse mémoire, de la barrière de St Petersbourg à l'Eglise cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Cazan et le jour son inhumation dans l'Eglise cathédrale de Saint Pierre et Saint Paul

[ALEXANDER I], Procession funèbre qui doit avoir lieu lors de la translation du corps de feu l'Empereur Alexandre I, de glorieuse mémoire, de la barrière de St Petersbourg à l'Eglise cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Cazan et le jour son inhumation dans l'Eglise cathédrale de Saint Pierre et Saint Paul

A great, very unusual printed artefact: an early example of Russian lithography in form of a long roll, giving extensive illustrated details on the future funeral of the tsar. Very rare.

Image for F. RASKOLNIKOV. Otkrytoe pismo Stalinu. Samizdat, 1960s-70s. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

A Soviet ambassador against Stalin

RASKOLNIKOV, Fedor

Otkrytoe pismo Stalinu [An Open Letter to Stalin]

RASKOLNIKOV, Fedor, Otkrytoe pismo Stalinu

Samizdat copy of a sharp criticism of Stalin's regim. Rare and dangerous in the USSR.

Out of stock

SOLD

Details of a functioning capital

[SAINT-PETERSBURG]

Sankt-Peterburgskoe gorodskoe obshchestvennoe upravlenie v 1891 godu: Otchety gorodskoi upravy i drugikh gorodskikh uchrezhdenii [St. Petersburg's City Public Administration in 1891. Reports of the City Council and Other City Agencies]

[SAINT-PETERSBURG], Sankt-Peterburgskoe gorodskoe obshchestvennoe upravlenie v 1891 godu: Otchety gorodskoi upravy i drugikh gorodskikh uchrezhdenii

Excellent copy of this extensive report, with many fascinating details on the administration of Saint Petersburg under Tsar Alexander III. Very rarely found outside Russia; and such in an appealing condition.

Image for BAKHAREV - MAKHNOVETS, V. Kak derzhat sebya na doprosakh. Geneva, 1900; first edition. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Getting ready...

BAKHAREV V. [pseud. for Vladimir Petrovich MAKHNOVETS]

Kak derzhat sebia na doprosakh [How to Conduct Oneself During Interrogations]

BAKHAREV V. [pseud. for Vladimir Petrovich MAKHNOVETS], Kak derzhat sebia na doprosakh

A practical handbook for revolutionaries caught by the tsarist authorities - pretty unusual theme and rare on the market. Attractive example of the first edition, with provenance.

Image for RYCAUT - RYKOT. Monarchya Turecka, in Polish. Leipzig, 1727. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Polish interest towards the Ottoman empire

[RYCAUT, Paul] RYKOT

Monarchya Turecka [The Turkish Monarchy]

[RYCAUT, Paul] RYKOT, Monarchya Turecka

First edition of this new translation in Polish (second edition overall) of this great account of the Ottoman empire. Very rare: only two copies traced in public libraries.

Image for P. KHOLODNY. Ukrainska abetka. New York, 1950s-60s. First edition. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Ukrainian in the USA

KHOLODNY, Petro (artist)

Ukrainska abetka [Ukrainian ABC]

KHOLODNY, Petro (artist), Ukrainska abetka

Very attractive and remarkably rare ABC, created by a son of the Ukrainian Minister of Education. A fine example.

Image for NABOKOV, Vl. Poetry in samizdat, very rare. 1970s. #3

Out of stock

SOLD

Nabokov the Poet – Home-made and illegal in Russia

NABOKOV, Vladimir

Stikhi [Poetry]

NABOKOV, Vladimir, Stikhi [Poetry]

Some of Nabokov's most scandalous poems, of course banned in Soviet Union and here in an illegal "edition" home-made in Brezhnev's USSR. Very rare.

Image for DOSTOEVSKY, F. Besy [The Possessed]. First edition, in wrappers. St. Petersburg, 1873. #1

Out of stock

SOLD

In superb original condition, with all wrappers

DOSTOEVSKY, Fedor Mikhailovich

Besy [The Devils, sometimes The Possessed or Demons]

DOSTOEVSKY, Fedor Mikhailovich, Besy

The best example we've handled of the first edition of this important Russian novel.

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