Our Notes & References

Exquisite copy of this ‘miniature’ edition of the most complete set of Krylov’s fables at that time: “among the top achievements of Russian literature” (Terras).

Compared to the previous (and first) small-format edition 13 years earlier, in 1835, our edition contains one more “book” of fables and 9 illustrations; it is absent from the extensive Krylov collection of Smirnov-Sokolskii.

“The Russian La Fontaine” Ivan Krylov (1768-1844) published the first separate edition of his fables in 1809. This collection initially included only 23 fables, 15 of which were adaptations of works by Aesop and La Fontaine. Over time, these fables “quickly became part of the texture of everyday Russian life” (Cornwell), and Krylov rose to prominence as Russia’s national writer during his lifetime. The number of fables continued to grow, and the last, most comprehensive edition had 197 fables organised into 9 ‘books’ or chapters. This “simple” (Smirnov-Sok.), octavo format edition with no decorations was prepared by Krylov himself and published in 1843.

Shortly after Krylov’s death in 1844, the publishers Iungmeister and Veimar acquired the rights to publish his works. In 1847, they released the “second complete edition” of his fables in octavo format. “The note ‘second complete edition’ may have a double meaning. The publishers considered it second either in relation to the 1843 edition or to their own three-volume edition of Krylov’s works [also published in 1847]” (Smirnov-Sok., our translation here and elsewhere). Apparently, different parts of the print run for the 1847 edition had varying sets of illustrations, and many copies lacked illustrations altogether. This edition also included a biographical sketch about Krylov written by the literary critic Petr Pletnev, a close associate of the fabulist.

The present “third complete edition” includes Pletnev’s slightly revised introduction, a new frontispiece after Olenin’s famous portrait of Krylov, and 9 full-page illustrations, placed at the beginning of each of the 9 books. The fables are accompanied by an alphabetical index at the end, and translations and adaptations are marked with an asterisk. Significantly modified to suit the miniature format, this edition can be regarded as an independent publication by Iungmeister and Veimar.

Interestingly, we didn’t find much information about this unusual ‘frantsuzskaia tiporgafiia’ (French Press), which here worked for two publishers of German origin. Iungmeister worked some time with Bellizard, a leading French publisher in St. Petersburg – is that maybe the reason for its name? We found just a couple of other, rather obscure editions under this imprint; and Iungmeister worked with Veimar worked together only on two occasions.

Provenance

Paul Porteau (hadnwritten inscription to upper fly-leaf, dated III.1901, and to recto of frontispiece); A. Villard (modern booklabel with motto “Nul Vil Art” to upper pastedown).

Bibliography

Lesman 1192; this edition not in Smirnov-Sok. Biblioteka; cf. Cornwell N. Reference Guide to Russian Literature, p. 471; Victor Terras. A History of Russian Literature, p. 138; Smirnov-Sokolskii, Nikolai. Rasskazy o knigakh, Vsesoiuznaia knizhnaia palata, Moskva, 1959.