![CHEKHOV, Anton (1860-1904). Vishnevyj sad: Komedija v chetyrekh dejstvijakh. [The Cherry Orchard: A comedy in four acts]. St Petersburg: A. Marks, 1904.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18441_0018_001(chekhov_anton_vishnevyj_sad_komedija_v_chetyrekh_dejstvijakh_the_cherr074922).jpg?w=1)
![CHEKHOV, Anton (1860-1904). Vishnevyj sad: Komedija v chetyrekh dejstvijakh. [The Cherry Orchard: A comedy in four acts]. St Petersburg: A. Marks, 1904.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18441_0018_000(chekhov_anton_vishnevyj_sad_komedija_v_chetyrekh_dejstvijakh_the_cherr073429).jpg?w=1)
Details
CHEKHOV, Anton (1860-1904). Vishnevyj sad: Komedija v chetyrekh dejstvijakh. [The Cherry Orchard: A comedy in four acts]. St Petersburg: A. Marks, 1904.
First separate edition of one of Chekhov's best known plays. It premiered at the Moscow Arts Theatre in January 1905 under the direction of Stanislavskii. This edition bears the censorship note dated June 1, 1904. The play had first appeared in that same year as part of Sbornik tovarishchestva 'Znanie' za 1903 god. ‘Chekhov received an offer from [Maxim] Gor’kii to publish the play in the annual of his firm Znanie, at a remuneration of fifteen hundred rubles a signature, the highest Chekhov had ever received. Because of his contract with [A. F]. Marx, which restricted publication of new works to newspapers and magazines, or to books that appeared for charitable purposes, it seemed at first that Chekhov would have to reject this alluring proposal. Violation of the contract carried a penalty at the rate of five thousand rubles for every printed signature. However, a way out was found. Both Chekhov and Gor’kii were interested in an appeal to aid indigent women medical students in Petersburg, and the Znanie Annual, including ‘The Cherry Orchard’, was published on behalf of this charitable purpose’ (E. J. Simmons, Chekhov, 1963, p.606). Marx issued the revised script in book form later that year. The official date of publication of The Cherry Orchard was June 1, 1904, a mere month before Chekhov’s death. Not in Kilgour or Smirnov-Sokol'skii.
Octavo (212 x 133mm). With advertisements leaf at end (title-page tipped to the front endleaf at gutter, one or two spots). Original publisher's printed boards (a little soiled, now backed in cloth), patterned endpapers. Provenance: actors’ names for a performance of 1928 (early red and purple pencil note next to characters’ names to the verso of the half-title).
First separate edition of one of Chekhov's best known plays. It premiered at the Moscow Arts Theatre in January 1905 under the direction of Stanislavskii. This edition bears the censorship note dated June 1, 1904. The play had first appeared in that same year as part of Sbornik tovarishchestva 'Znanie' za 1903 god. ‘Chekhov received an offer from [Maxim] Gor’kii to publish the play in the annual of his firm Znanie, at a remuneration of fifteen hundred rubles a signature, the highest Chekhov had ever received. Because of his contract with [A. F]. Marx, which restricted publication of new works to newspapers and magazines, or to books that appeared for charitable purposes, it seemed at first that Chekhov would have to reject this alluring proposal. Violation of the contract carried a penalty at the rate of five thousand rubles for every printed signature. However, a way out was found. Both Chekhov and Gor’kii were interested in an appeal to aid indigent women medical students in Petersburg, and the Znanie Annual, including ‘The Cherry Orchard’, was published on behalf of this charitable purpose’ (E. J. Simmons, Chekhov, 1963, p.606). Marx issued the revised script in book form later that year. The official date of publication of The Cherry Orchard was June 1, 1904, a mere month before Chekhov’s death. Not in Kilgour or Smirnov-Sokol'skii.
Octavo (212 x 133mm). With advertisements leaf at end (title-page tipped to the front endleaf at gutter, one or two spots). Original publisher's printed boards (a little soiled, now backed in cloth), patterned endpapers. Provenance: actors’ names for a performance of 1928 (early red and purple pencil note next to characters’ names to the verso of the half-title).
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