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KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich (1768-1844). Basni. [Fables]. St Petersburg: Government Provincial Press, 1809.
The first lifetime edition of the first book of Fables, the genre by which Krylov obtained lasting renown as ‘the Russian La Fontaine’. It gathers 23 stories inspired by the fabulistic tradition running from Aesop to La Fontaine. Krylov would go on to earn a foremost place in such tradition, with scenes from his fables populating successive literature, visual arts, political satire and musical interpretations. This edition was published in 1200 copies and was an immediate success, with many of Krylov’s lines and characters quickly becoming proverbial. It was already ‘not found on sale…and difficult to find anywhere’ by themiddle of the century (Russkij arkhiv). RBH and ABPC record only two copies having been offered at auction. Smirnov-Sokol’skii, Moia biblioteka, 782; Kilgour 569.
Octavo (193 x 122mm). Without final blank (light foxing, some thumbing, small tear at lower gutter of two leaves, edges softened, few ink or pencil marks). 19th-century half calf, marbled boards (spine and extremities rubbed). Provenance: erased contemporary inscription and ‘v’ (in Cyrillic) in red crayon (front endleaf).
The first lifetime edition of the first book of Fables, the genre by which Krylov obtained lasting renown as ‘the Russian La Fontaine’. It gathers 23 stories inspired by the fabulistic tradition running from Aesop to La Fontaine. Krylov would go on to earn a foremost place in such tradition, with scenes from his fables populating successive literature, visual arts, political satire and musical interpretations. This edition was published in 1200 copies and was an immediate success, with many of Krylov’s lines and characters quickly becoming proverbial. It was already ‘not found on sale…and difficult to find anywhere’ by themiddle of the century (Russkij arkhiv). RBH and ABPC record only two copies having been offered at auction. Smirnov-Sokol’skii, Moia biblioteka, 782; Kilgour 569.
Octavo (193 x 122mm). Without final blank (light foxing, some thumbing, small tear at lower gutter of two leaves, edges softened, few ink or pencil marks). 19th-century half calf, marbled boards (spine and extremities rubbed). Provenance: erased contemporary inscription and ‘v’ (in Cyrillic) in red crayon (front endleaf).
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