![KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich (1768-1844). Basni…chast’ pervaja [-vtoraja]. [Fables…Part I[-II]]. St Petersburg: A. Smirdin, 1834.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18466_0041_001(krylov_ivan_andreevich_basnichast_pervaja_-vtoraja_fablespart_i-ii_st114235).jpg?w=1)
![KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich (1768-1844). Basni…chast’ pervaja [-vtoraja]. [Fables…Part I[-II]]. St Petersburg: A. Smirdin, 1834.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18466_0041_002(krylov_ivan_andreevich_basnichast_pervaja_-vtoraja_fablespart_i-ii_st114253).jpg?w=1)
![KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich (1768-1844). Basni…chast’ pervaja [-vtoraja]. [Fables…Part I[-II]]. St Petersburg: A. Smirdin, 1834.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18466_0041_003(krylov_ivan_andreevich_basnichast_pervaja_-vtoraja_fablespart_i-ii_st125344).jpg?w=1)
![KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich (1768-1844). Basni…chast’ pervaja [-vtoraja]. [Fables…Part I[-II]]. St Petersburg: A. Smirdin, 1834.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18466_0041_000(krylov_ivan_andreevich_basnichast_pervaja_-vtoraja_fablespart_i-ii_st114214).jpg?w=1)
Details
KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich (1768-1844). Basni…chast’ pervaja [-vtoraja]. [Fables…Part I[-II]]. St Petersburg: A. Smirdin, 1834.
Lavishly illustrated edition, in an elegant binding, ‘one of the best Russian illustrated editions and the most wonderful of those produced by A. Smirdin’, printed in 2,000 copies (Smirnov-Sokol’skii). Even more thanks to A.P. Sapozhnikov’s illustrations, Krylov succeeded ‘in fusing the general with the particular’, his talking animals ‘expressing their distinctive qualities against a background that is unmistakeably Russian’ (Terras). Smirnov-Sokol’skii, Moia biblioteka, 793; Fekula 4859; Kilgour 576. V. Terras, Handbook of Russian Literature, p.236.
2 parts in 1 volume, quarto (235 x 185mm). With 93 plates and half-title (first quire reinforced at gutter, occasional thumbing or ink splashes, somewhat spotted, a couple of small marginal tears, one repaired, one plate partly detached but sound, light marginal waterstain to another.) 19th-century Russian straight-grained green morocco, double gilt ruled, spine tooled in gold and blind, gilt-lettered, in modern slipcase (hinges, head and foot of spine scuffed). Provenance: V.I. Klotschkoff (bookseller’s ticket on rear pastedown).
Lavishly illustrated edition, in an elegant binding, ‘one of the best Russian illustrated editions and the most wonderful of those produced by A. Smirdin’, printed in 2,000 copies (Smirnov-Sokol’skii). Even more thanks to A.P. Sapozhnikov’s illustrations, Krylov succeeded ‘in fusing the general with the particular’, his talking animals ‘expressing their distinctive qualities against a background that is unmistakeably Russian’ (Terras). Smirnov-Sokol’skii, Moia biblioteka, 793; Fekula 4859; Kilgour 576. V. Terras, Handbook of Russian Literature, p.236.
2 parts in 1 volume, quarto (235 x 185mm). With 93 plates and half-title (first quire reinforced at gutter, occasional thumbing or ink splashes, somewhat spotted, a couple of small marginal tears, one repaired, one plate partly detached but sound, light marginal waterstain to another.) 19th-century Russian straight-grained green morocco, double gilt ruled, spine tooled in gold and blind, gilt-lettered, in modern slipcase (hinges, head and foot of spine scuffed). Provenance: V.I. Klotschkoff (bookseller’s ticket on rear pastedown).
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