![PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837) – Poliarnaia zvezda. Karmannaia knizhka dlia liubitel'nits i liubite'ei ruskoi slovesnosti na 1823g. [The Pole Star. A Pocket Book for Female and Male Lovers of Russian Literature, for the year 1823.] St Petersburg: by N. Grech for A. Bestuzhev and K. Ryleev, 1823.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_17162_0010_001(pushkin_alexander_poliarnaia_zvezda_karmannaia_knizhka_dlia_liubitelni103639).jpg?w=1)
![PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837) – Poliarnaia zvezda. Karmannaia knizhka dlia liubitel'nits i liubite'ei ruskoi slovesnosti na 1823g. [The Pole Star. A Pocket Book for Female and Male Lovers of Russian Literature, for the year 1823.] St Petersburg: by N. Grech for A. Bestuzhev and K. Ryleev, 1823.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_17162_0010_000(pushkin_alexander_poliarnaia_zvezda_karmannaia_knizhka_dlia_liubitelni103630).jpg?w=1)
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PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837) – Poliarnaia zvezda. Karmannaia knizhka dlia liubitel'nits i liubite'ei ruskoi slovesnosti na 1823g. [The Pole Star. A Pocket Book for Female and Male Lovers of Russian Literature, for the year 1823.] St Petersburg: by N. Grech for A. Bestuzhev and K. Ryleev, 1823.
The first edition of the rare inaugural issue of one of the best literary journals of its time. RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction; the celebrated Diaghilev-Lifar collection held only the later volumes. Contributions by Pushkin in this first number of Poliarnaia zvezda include the first appearance of four poems: 'Ovidiiu', 'Grechanke', 'Elegiia', and 'Mechta voina'. The first poem is addressed to Ovid, with whom Pushkin identified as a fellow exiled poet; in 1821 Pushkin visited several places in Bessarabia said to have been visited by Ovid. Other contributors include Krylov, Baratynskii, Viazemskii, Gnedich, Glinka, Zhukovskii, and several other leading authors. The journal's editors, Bestuzhev and Ryleev, were later arrested for their part in the Decemberists uprising. Kilgour 850; Smirnov-Sokol'skii, Pushkin, p.504.
Octavo (148 x 105mm). Additional engraved title page (chips in the margins of two leaves, not affecting the text; occasional marginal dampstain; occasional light soiling; neatly repaired tear in the margin of the last leaf). Contemporary Russian half calf, flat spine tooled in compartments, red morocco label (spine ends chipped, corners rubbed).
The first edition of the rare inaugural issue of one of the best literary journals of its time. RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction; the celebrated Diaghilev-Lifar collection held only the later volumes. Contributions by Pushkin in this first number of Poliarnaia zvezda include the first appearance of four poems: 'Ovidiiu', 'Grechanke', 'Elegiia', and 'Mechta voina'. The first poem is addressed to Ovid, with whom Pushkin identified as a fellow exiled poet; in 1821 Pushkin visited several places in Bessarabia said to have been visited by Ovid. Other contributors include Krylov, Baratynskii, Viazemskii, Gnedich, Glinka, Zhukovskii, and several other leading authors. The journal's editors, Bestuzhev and Ryleev, were later arrested for their part in the Decemberists uprising. Kilgour 850; Smirnov-Sokol'skii, Pushkin, p.504.
Octavo (148 x 105mm). Additional engraved title page (chips in the margins of two leaves, not affecting the text; occasional marginal dampstain; occasional light soiling; neatly repaired tear in the margin of the last leaf). Contemporary Russian half calf, flat spine tooled in compartments, red morocco label (spine ends chipped, corners rubbed).
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