Superb example - with provenance
Publication: Skt Peterburg, Brat. Panteleev, 1881 [but December 1880].
Fine copy of the first edition of Dostoevsky’s masterpiece, with a rare and contemporary Scottish-Moscow provenance. Most desirable.
£62,500
In stock
An excellent example of the first edition in book form of Dostoevsky’s masterpiece: ‘The most magnificent novel ever written’ (Freud). The work was first published in serial form in The Russian Messenger between January 1879 and November 1880. Extremely rare in such a fine contemporary binding, here with bright gilt ornaments.
With interesting contemporary British-Russian provenance: from the library of Albert McGill, a wealthy industrialist and part of the influential British community in 19th-century Russia. The first McGills in Moscow were most-likely Albert’s grandfather Robert McGill and his brother David, who emigrated from Paisley in Scotland in the 1840s.
The family is credited with starting the first mechanical and foundry works in Russia, as well playing an important role in the country’s cotton mill industry. Just like any other British family living in 19th-century Moscow, the McGills were related by marriage to several other British families and Albert was no exception. His wife Eleonora, née Gibson, was the daughter of Charles John Gibson or Karl Iakovlevich Gibson, director of the Nevsky Stearin Factory in Moscow which produced soap. The McGills donated the largest sum towards the construction of St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Moscow which was completed in 1884.
Provenance
Albert McGill (armorial engr. bookplate with motto ‘sine fine’).
Bibliography
Kilgour 286.
Item number
3245
Four parts in 2 vols 8vo. Complete with all half-titles.
Binding
Contemporary Russian black morocco spines over dark burgundy pebble-grained cloth, spines with raised bands, richly gilt in compartments.
Condition
Cover minimally rubbed; vol. 2 p.659 with short tear without text loss, vol. II with leaves cockled towards end, scattered light foxing, otherwise excellent, rarely so attractive.
A landmark in Russian literature history: one of the most important compilations of classic Russian literature, featuring the first and life-changing publication of Dostoevsky's debut novel as well as contributions from major writers and critics such as Turgenev, Nekrasov, Belinskii, and Herzen.
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