![PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837). Povesti pokoinago Ivana Petrovicha Belkina, izdannyia A.P. [Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin, published by A.P]. St Petersburg: at the Pliushar Press, 1831.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18441_0101_000(pushkin_alexander_povesti_pokoinago_ivana_petrovicha_belkina_izdannyia074604).jpg?w=1)
Details
PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837). Povesti pokoinago Ivana Petrovicha Belkina, izdannyia A.P. [Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin, published by A.P]. St Petersburg: at the Pliushar Press, 1831.
The first edition of Pushkin's first collection of prose – 'the first stories of permanent artistic value in the Russian language' (Nabokov). RBH and ABPC record only three copies having sold at auction. The five stories are preceded by Pushkin's fictional introduction in which he pretends to be merely the publisher of these stories, rather than their author. They are 'a work of extreme artistic sophistication [..]. distinguished by an extraordinary literariness' (Binyon). Binyon, Pushkin, London: 2002, pp.384-5; Kilgour 886; Nabokov, Eugene Onegin. Volume II: Commentary and Index, Princeton: 1990, p.180; Smirnov-Sokol'skii, Pushkin, 27.
12mo (170 x 97mm). With the half-title and errata (title-page restored in the upper and lower margin touching the top of first letter in title and lower portion of two numbers in the date, smudged mark from a stamp in the margin of last page of text.) Contemporary half speckled calf, marbled covers to boards, flat sine decorated in blind, red morocco lettering-piece (corners worn, extremities rubbed). Provenance: a couple of pencil corrections to the text - bookseller V. Klochkov (label on rear paste-down) - 'S.P.B. 1981' (inscription at front).
The first edition of Pushkin's first collection of prose – 'the first stories of permanent artistic value in the Russian language' (Nabokov). RBH and ABPC record only three copies having sold at auction. The five stories are preceded by Pushkin's fictional introduction in which he pretends to be merely the publisher of these stories, rather than their author. They are 'a work of extreme artistic sophistication [..]. distinguished by an extraordinary literariness' (Binyon). Binyon, Pushkin, London: 2002, pp.384-5; Kilgour 886; Nabokov, Eugene Onegin. Volume II: Commentary and Index, Princeton: 1990, p.180; Smirnov-Sokol'skii, Pushkin, 27.
12mo (170 x 97mm). With the half-title and errata (title-page restored in the upper and lower margin touching the top of first letter in title and lower portion of two numbers in the date, smudged mark from a stamp in the margin of last page of text.) Contemporary half speckled calf, marbled covers to boards, flat sine decorated in blind, red morocco lettering-piece (corners worn, extremities rubbed). Provenance: a couple of pencil corrections to the text - bookseller V. Klochkov (label on rear paste-down) - 'S.P.B. 1981' (inscription at front).
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Brought to you by
Emily Pilling