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NABOKOV, Vladimir Vladimirovich (1899-1977, writing as 'V. Sirin'). Grozd. Stikhi. [The Cluster. Poems.] Berlin: Gamaiun, 1923.
The first edition of Nabokov's first major collection of poetry. It is the first commercially published, following the youthful effort Stikhi, which Nabokov had published at his own expense when he was just sixteen and which he later disowned. Grozd is the first publication to use Nabokov's pseudonym 'Sirin', a name that evokes a fabulous bird from Russian folklore; Nabokov continued to use this pseudonym for many years thereafter. Grozd includes many love poems inspired by his fiancée Svetlana Siewert; he presented a copy to her just before Christmas, but her parents called off the engagement within weeks, concerned by Nabokov's lack of gainful employment. The collection also includes a poem on the death of Alexander Blok, a poem dedicated to Ivan Bunin, and 'Paskha' [Easter], written after Nabokov's father was killed in March 1922, when Russian monarchists attempted to assassinate Pavel Milyulkov. Juliar A5.1.
Octavo (158 x 128mm). (Small adhesive stains in some margins throughout; some short tears and light wear in some margins.) Original tan paper wrappers printed in brown (text block detached, staples perished; final leaf detached; remnants of paper labels on the spine and front cover; some wear and light soiling). Provenance: Jewish Students Association, Berlin (stamp on the covers, title page and occasionally throughout).
The first edition of Nabokov's first major collection of poetry. It is the first commercially published, following the youthful effort Stikhi, which Nabokov had published at his own expense when he was just sixteen and which he later disowned. Grozd is the first publication to use Nabokov's pseudonym 'Sirin', a name that evokes a fabulous bird from Russian folklore; Nabokov continued to use this pseudonym for many years thereafter. Grozd includes many love poems inspired by his fiancée Svetlana Siewert; he presented a copy to her just before Christmas, but her parents called off the engagement within weeks, concerned by Nabokov's lack of gainful employment. The collection also includes a poem on the death of Alexander Blok, a poem dedicated to Ivan Bunin, and 'Paskha' [Easter], written after Nabokov's father was killed in March 1922, when Russian monarchists attempted to assassinate Pavel Milyulkov. Juliar A5.1.
Octavo (158 x 128mm). (Small adhesive stains in some margins throughout; some short tears and light wear in some margins.) Original tan paper wrappers printed in brown (text block detached, staples perished; final leaf detached; remnants of paper labels on the spine and front cover; some wear and light soiling). Provenance: Jewish Students Association, Berlin (stamp on the covers, title page and occasionally throughout).
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