![GIPPIUS, Vasily Vasilyevich (1890 -1942). Volshebnitsa [The sorceress]. St Petersburg: [s.n.], 1913. [Offered with:] GIPPIUS, Zinaida Nikolaevna (1869-1945). Sobranie stikhov: Kniga vtoraia 1903-1909 [Collected Poems: Book Two 1903-1909]. Moscow: Musaget, 1910.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18466_0106_001(gippius_vasily_vasilyevich_volshebnitsa_the_sorceress_st_petersburg_sn121524).jpg?w=1)
![GIPPIUS, Vasily Vasilyevich (1890 -1942). Volshebnitsa [The sorceress]. St Petersburg: [s.n.], 1913. [Offered with:] GIPPIUS, Zinaida Nikolaevna (1869-1945). Sobranie stikhov: Kniga vtoraia 1903-1909 [Collected Poems: Book Two 1903-1909]. Moscow: Musaget, 1910.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18466_0106_000(gippius_vasily_vasilyevich_volshebnitsa_the_sorceress_st_petersburg_sn121507).jpg?w=1)
Details
GIPPIUS, Vasily Vasilyevich (1890 -1942). Volshebnitsa [The sorceress]. St Petersburg: [s.n.], 1913. [Offered with:] GIPPIUS, Zinaida Nikolaevna (1869-1945). Sobranie stikhov: Kniga vtoraia 1903-1909 [Collected Poems: Book Two 1903-1909]. Moscow: Musaget, 1910.
Two first editions, The Sorceress very rare and a presentation copy. The Sorceress was Vasily Gippius’ only book, a story in verse imbued with eroticism, produced in a tiny print run of fifty copies (this numbered 29). The inscription, deeply personal, reads ‘To my dear wife. Good old friend and “eternal companion”’. Neither Lesman or Rozanov succeeded in securing a copy for their collections. Auction records show no copy having been offered in the last 40 years. II. Zinaida Gippius' second and most important, most cited book of poetry was the last verse collection she would publish until 1938. A figure of major stature in Russian symbolism, in her poetry before her emigration Gippius explored mystical, natural, religious, sexual, dark themes, and was described by contemporary critics either enthusiastically as ‘quintessential Russian modernist’ or as an androgynous demon – a soubriquet she wholly embraced, even using male pseudonyms. The selection includes poems dedicated to A. Blok and P. Soloviev.
Octavo. I: (202 x 330). (Light occasional spotting). Original red printed wrappers (minor wear to spine extremities). Provenance: Vasily Vasilyevich Gippius (inscribed to his wife, 6 March 1913) - old bookseller’s ticket. II: (206 x 146mm). (Ffep neatly excised except for a 30mm stub, lower outer corners dusty, light uniform browning.) Original printed wrappers designed by Voronov (extremities worn, upper wrapper chipped at top, somewhat soiled).
Two first editions, The Sorceress very rare and a presentation copy. The Sorceress was Vasily Gippius’ only book, a story in verse imbued with eroticism, produced in a tiny print run of fifty copies (this numbered 29). The inscription, deeply personal, reads ‘To my dear wife. Good old friend and “eternal companion”’. Neither Lesman or Rozanov succeeded in securing a copy for their collections. Auction records show no copy having been offered in the last 40 years. II. Zinaida Gippius' second and most important, most cited book of poetry was the last verse collection she would publish until 1938. A figure of major stature in Russian symbolism, in her poetry before her emigration Gippius explored mystical, natural, religious, sexual, dark themes, and was described by contemporary critics either enthusiastically as ‘quintessential Russian modernist’ or as an androgynous demon – a soubriquet she wholly embraced, even using male pseudonyms. The selection includes poems dedicated to A. Blok and P. Soloviev.
Octavo. I: (202 x 330). (Light occasional spotting). Original red printed wrappers (minor wear to spine extremities). Provenance: Vasily Vasilyevich Gippius (inscribed to his wife, 6 March 1913) - old bookseller’s ticket. II: (206 x 146mm). (Ffep neatly excised except for a 30mm stub, lower outer corners dusty, light uniform browning.) Original printed wrappers designed by Voronov (extremities worn, upper wrapper chipped at top, somewhat soiled).
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