DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Brat'ia Karamazovy. [The Brothers Karamazov.] St. Petersburg: Brothers Panteleev, 1881.

4 parts in 2 volumes, 8º (206-210 x 145-147mm). (Light dampstaining, light spotting in vol. 1, wormhole in vol.2, light wear to half-title, light soiling.) Contemporary cloth [vol. 1], the sides with a blindstamped border, the spine and upper side lettered in gilt; and modern green calf-backed cloth [vol. 2], the spine lettered in gilt to match (vol. 1 neatly rebacked preserving the original spine). Provenance: [vol. 1] Aleksei Aleksandrovich Ivanov (1860-1921, Dostoevsky's nephew; 'A.I.' cipher at spine foot, signature; acquired from his estate by the consignor) -- permission to export stamp on verso of last leaf; [vol. 2] 'Matveev' (contemporary signature in the bottom margin of two leaves).

FIRST EDITION OF THE AUTHOR'S MASTERPIECE, described by Freud as 'the most magnificent novel ever written'. Any part of Karamazov in contemporary cloth is very rare: ABPC and AE record no other at auction. Kilgour 286.

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