MANDELSHTAM, Osip Emilevich (1891-1938; author) and LAPSHIN, Nikolai Fedorovich (1891-1942; illustrator). Shary. [Balloons.] Moscow and St. Petersburg: Raduga, 1926.

4º (278 x 206mm). Colour illustrations throughout. (Light spotting in some leaves.) Original colour-printed wrappers. (Light wear.)

FIRST EDITION. A VERY GOOD, UNRESTORED EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE RAREST RUSSIAN AVANT-GARDE BOOKS. Shary is the rarest of Mandelshtam's books for children. ABPC and AE record no copy having been offered at auction. WorldCat lists no copy outside of Russia. Not in MoMA, the British Library nor the Mark Rats collection. A remarkable survival, particularly in this condition.

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