![PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837). Ruslan i Liudmila. Poema v shesti pesniakh. [Ruslan and Liudmila. A Poem in Six Cantos.] St. Petersburg: N. Grech, 1820.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/CKS/2017_CKS_14301_0190_001(pushkin_alexander_ruslan_i_liudmila_poema_v_shesti_pesniakh_ruslan_and033207).jpg?w=1)
![PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837). Ruslan i Liudmila. Poema v shesti pesniakh. [Ruslan and Liudmila. A Poem in Six Cantos.] St. Petersburg: N. Grech, 1820.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/CKS/2017_CKS_14301_0190_002(pushkin_alexander_ruslan_i_liudmila_poema_v_shesti_pesniakh_ruslan_and033223).jpg?w=1)
![PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837). Ruslan i Liudmila. Poema v shesti pesniakh. [Ruslan and Liudmila. A Poem in Six Cantos.] St. Petersburg: N. Grech, 1820.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/CKS/2017_CKS_14301_0190_000(pushkin_alexander_ruslan_i_liudmila_poema_v_shesti_pesniakh_ruslan_and033156).jpg?w=1)
Details
PUSHKIN, Alexander (1799-1837). Ruslan i Liudmila. Poema v shesti pesniakh. [Ruslan and Liudmila. A Poem in Six Cantos.] St. Petersburg: N. Grech, 1820.
The first edition, first issue, of Pushkin’s rare first book, in the original wrappers. As Smirnov-Sokol’skii notes, the earliest copies of Ruslan and Liudmila were issued in plain wrappers and without a frontispiece; the engraving by Ivanov was published later, and the publisher also later changed from plain wrappers, as here, to wrappers printed with the title. Pushkin began writing this mock epic while still at the Tsarskoe Selo lyceum, and continued to work on it from 1817 to 1820, between drinking bouts, gambling sprees and duels. Ruslan and Liudmila was published in June 1820, but Pushkin would not see a copy for at least a year: he was already exiled to Southern Russia for writing scandalous epigrams about the Imperial family. Pushkin’s epic poem proved a resounding success and sold out quickly. RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction since the Fekula copy, in the later printed wrappers (sold, Christie’s East, 8 June 1994, lot 309). Kilgour 874; Smirnov-Sokol’skii, Pushkin 1.
Octavo (227 x 142mm). 142 pages. Printed on laid paper watermarked '1819' (small, expert repairs to the blank corners of a few leaves; occasional light soiling and light spotting, including in the title.) Original plain marbled wrappers (spine and extremities neatly repaired; without the front free endpaper); custom green buckram clamshell case. Provenance: Cyrillic cipher stamped in the margin of the first and last leaves.
The first edition, first issue, of Pushkin’s rare first book, in the original wrappers. As Smirnov-Sokol’skii notes, the earliest copies of Ruslan and Liudmila were issued in plain wrappers and without a frontispiece; the engraving by Ivanov was published later, and the publisher also later changed from plain wrappers, as here, to wrappers printed with the title. Pushkin began writing this mock epic while still at the Tsarskoe Selo lyceum, and continued to work on it from 1817 to 1820, between drinking bouts, gambling sprees and duels. Ruslan and Liudmila was published in June 1820, but Pushkin would not see a copy for at least a year: he was already exiled to Southern Russia for writing scandalous epigrams about the Imperial family. Pushkin’s epic poem proved a resounding success and sold out quickly. RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction since the Fekula copy, in the later printed wrappers (sold, Christie’s East, 8 June 1994, lot 309). Kilgour 874; Smirnov-Sokol’skii, Pushkin 1.
Octavo (227 x 142mm). 142 pages. Printed on laid paper watermarked '1819' (small, expert repairs to the blank corners of a few leaves; occasional light soiling and light spotting, including in the title.) Original plain marbled wrappers (spine and extremities neatly repaired; without the front free endpaper); custom green buckram clamshell case. Provenance: Cyrillic cipher stamped in the margin of the first and last leaves.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Brought to you by
Emily Pilling