DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Dnevnik pisatelia. [A Writer's Diary.] St. Petersburg: Fyodor Dostoevsky at the presses of Obolenskii, Putsykovich, Brothers Panteleev, and Suvorin, 1877-1878, 1880-1881.

23 parts [all issued], in 2 volumes, 8º (251-260 x 170-174mm). (First volume without the general title and content leaf issued post facto and noted in some copies; occasional light spotting and light soiling.) Contemporary half leather, spine titled in gilt [1876 vol.], and original cloth, the sides blindstamped and the spine and upper side titled in gilt [1877, 1880-81 vol.] (second volume neatly rebacked preserving the original spine, both rear endpapers with losses). Provenance: [vol. 1: ] Mikhail Aleksandrovich Taube (1869-1961; shelf label, signature and binding); [vol. 2:] 'A.S.' (stamp at spine foot) -- permission to export stamp on last leaf of both volumes.

FIRST EDITION, A VERY RARE COMPLETE SET: apparently only one other is recorded selling at auction, the Diaghilev-Lifar copy (sold, Sotheby's Monaco, 28 November 1975, lot 162). This collection of shorter prose includes masterpieces like 'Krotkaya' and 'Son smeshnogo cheloveka', and some of his most telling autobiographical notes, including his opinions of Tolstoy, Nekrasov and others. The 1881 volume is from the second printing, using the same setting of type. Kilgour 285; Smirnov-Sokol'skii, Moia biblioteka, 691-694.

No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.