Illustrated Books from

This book, comprising two stories, was written by Dukenbai Doszhanov (1942-2013), a Kazakh writer, journalist, and editor. Probably, it was first published in Russian in 1974. The first story, Good Old Granddad Beknur, follows a young man on a journey across the vast steppe. Along the way, he stops at a solitary yurt and encounters an old shepherd whom he remembers… Read more about this item

First and only edition. Sergei Kirov, the leader of the Leningrad party organization, a member of the Politburo, the Orgburo, and the secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, was assassinated on December 1, 1934, in Smolny. His murderer, Leonid Nikolaev, was arrested and executed. This event served as a pretext for Stalin to implicate… Read more about this item

First edition of these illustrations. The book consists of two fairy tales. The first tale is Cuckoo, a Nenets story portraying a mother who transforms into a cuckoo due to her children's neglect. The second tale is Aioga, a Nanai story depicting a beautiful girl who becomes so enamored with her own reflection that she ultimately transforms into a goose. The… Read more about this item

The book focuses on Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), a prominent male interpreter of female roles and the phenomena of modern Chinese theater. Mei, often referred to as the "Queen of Peking Opera," played a pioneering role in introducing Beijing Opera to foreign countries, engaging in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. He embarked on global tours, forging… Read more about this item

Rare in good condition. The book, which revolves around a little girl and her kitten and was created through the collaboration of Marshak and Lebedev, gained immense popularity and underwent numerous republishings. Samuil Marshak named as "the founder of Russia's children's literature," (1887-1964), and Vladimir Lebedev (1891-1967) was one of the most significant Russian illustrators of children's books at… Read more about this item

First edition of this translation and these illustrations. First Carême's Russian book. This poem, written by Maurice Carême (1899-1978), a Belgian francophone poet, made its debut in 1947. The translation work was undertaken by Mikhail Kudinov (1922-1994). In 1948, during his tenure as a student at the philology faculty of Moscow State University, he was accused for engaging in anti-Soviet… Read more about this item

Translated from English by T. Shchepkina-Kupernik. Editing, preface, and comments by S. Babukh. Galley proof of Robert Burn's first Soviet translation. Technical editor's marks and stamps (dated on 23 March 1936). This copy was signed by a "technical editor" (Soviet term for a proofreader) A. Tcyppo. According to proofreader's stamps, it is dated on March 23rd and the book of poems was signed… Read more about this item

Retold by Boris Zakhoder. First edition with these illustrations. First book edition of this translation. This adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was done by Boris Zakhoder (1918–2000), a prominent poet, translator, and children's writer. Zakhoder's version was first published in the magazine Pioneer in 1971–1972 (# 12, 1-3) and was accompanied by an introduction where he expressed his desire… Read more about this item

Translation by B. Pasternak. [Preface and comments by M. Morozov]. Signed and inscribed by the translator Boris Pasternak: "Komu vynetsia / tomu sbudetsia. / B Pasternak . 6 ianv. 1947 g. / Moskva". [Whoever pulls up it, will get it. B. Pasternak. January 6th, 1947. Moscow]. Most likely, this signed copy was a prize in some game. Third edition of Hamlet in Pasternak's… Read more about this item

Translation by Yu. Nagibin and E. Gippius. Preface by Yu. Nagibin. Signed and inscribed by the translator: "Dorogomu / Tole / ot Dzhoni i Yury / Nagibin / Tolkien / 1988" [To my dear Tolya from Johnny and Yura. Nagibin. Tolkien. 1988]. First book edition of Smith of Wootton Major into Russian. The first Russian translation of Tolkien's work was an excerpt from The… Read more about this item

Translation by E. Selezneva. First Bisset's Russian book. The only edition of these illustrations. This is Donald Bisset's first book in Russian, which introduced the storyteller to Soviet children. It is believed that Bisset is more famous in Russia than in his home country. Many of his stories were translated and adapted into animated films, including puppet animation. Bisset visited the USSR… Read more about this item

Signed and inscribed by the illustrator: "Innochke ot / M. Mituricha / 13 V 61." [To Inna from M. Miturich 13 V 61.]. This verse is devoted to the wizard Ugomon who help people to fall asleep and quiet children down. It was illustrated by May Miturich (Miturich-Khlebnikov, 1925–2008), an artist, nephew of futurist poet Velimir Khlebnikov and son of… Read more about this item

Signed and inscribed by the illustrator: "Risoval Ya M. Miturich / 26 X 61" [Drawn by me M. Miturich 26 X 61]. This book is about the expedition to an island near the Antarctic, funny penguins and their enemies. It was illustrated by May Miturich (Miturich-Khlebnikov, 1925–2008), an artist, nephew of futurist poet Velimir Khlebnikov and son of avant-garde artist Vera… Read more about this item

Signed and inscribed by the illustrator: "Innochke Shmelevoy ot M. Mituricha / 13 V 61." [To Inna Shmeleva from M. Miturich 13 V 61]. First edition. The only edition with these illustrations. This book is about a girl Marina and her father, a forester, who lived on the shore of the White Sea. The illustrator May Miturich (Miturich-Khlebnikov, 1925–2008) is… Read more about this item

Limited to 6000 copies. In 1928 a Soviet icebreakers Malygin and Krassin took part in the rescue operation of the Umberto Nobile's dirigible expedition. This book includes essays about the expedition by the crew members: the leaders of expedition Vladimir Wiese and Alexey Lavrov, the polar aviator Mikhail Babushkin, the meteorologist Mikhail Loris-Melikov (in 1934 was arrested and died in prison),… Read more about this item

The book was designed by the Russian-born painter and graphic artist Varvara Bubnova (1886-1983). Her mother was distantly related to the prominent poet Alexander Pushkin. Varvara studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. In the early 1910s, she became a member of the Youth Union and participated in art exhibitions with Mikhail Larionov, Natalia Goncharova, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, and David… Read more about this item

Moskva, Khudozhestvennaya literatura, 1949. Limited to 10 000 copies. First edition of King Lear in Pasternak's translations. Signed for print on November 24, 1948. Pasternak finished King Lear's translation in the fall of 1947. He described King Lear as 'quiet tragedy' in which love is the main victim. In first edition the Duke of Albany expresses very dangerous idea for Stalin's era: 'Let's follow… Read more about this item

In original illustrated wrappers. In good condition, rebacked, worn to the edges, small tear on the front cover. First edition. Limited to 30 325 copies. [Edited by S. Marshak]. Teki Odulok (born Nikolay Spiridonov; 1906-1938) was the founder of Yukaghir literature. He was born in a poor Yukaghir family (people in the Russian Far East) and was sent by the Communist Party… Read more about this item

One of 150 000 copies printed. This new version of Russian folktale is devoted to old woman, her hen and other animals who live in her fam. The verse is created as cumulative tale. Illustrations were prepared by a sculptor, author of Aleksandr Griboedov monument in Moscow, Appolon Manuilov (1894-1973).

In original illustrated wrappers. Near good condition, slightly won to the edges. One of 150 000 copies printed. The main characters of this funny verse (close to cumulative tale) are boy Mishka, who is afraid of mouse, cat, who is afraid of dog Kroshka, and mouse, who is afraid of cat. The book was designed by a graphic artist, children's… Read more about this item