Children's Books from Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books

Squarish octavo 22.5x19 cm., wrappers, (10) pp. A slovenly boy severely abuses the books in his household, leaving missing covers, torn pages, and other damage in such classics as The Brothers Grimm, Don Quixote, and Robinson Crusoe, among others. The books decide to escape, and flee en masse to the public library where they are greeted by a strong, stern,… Read more about this item

Octavo 19.5x15 cm., wrappers, 12pp Iakov Petkovich Metsin (1886-1943) was a Soviet children's book author, publisher, editor, and bookseller. Maksin was largely responsible for the overall direction of children's literature in the USSR under various bureaus until his arrest in 1938. A story about the chocolate potato. With artwork by Konstantin Vasil'evich Kuznetsov (1873-1943), book artist, animator, and engraver. A… Read more about this item

Oblong octavo 19.5x15 cm., wrappers, 22pp. Drawings by Nikolai Kupreianov (1894-1933). Finely rendered nature introduction to young readers. Aleksandr Viktorovich Kovalenskii (1897-1965) was a symbolist poet who authored children's books in the 1920s and 30s. OCLC locates three holdings in North wAmerica. A fine copy.

Octavo 20x15 cm., wrappers, (12) pp. Iakov Godin (1887-1954) was a Russian poet, translator, and editor. No biographical data for the illustrator Tatiana Krshinovskaia is currently available . OCLC finds one North American institutional holding (Harvard) for this work. A fine copy

Octavo 16x13 cm., wrappers, (14) pp. Lina-Sofia Samuilovna Neumann (1883-1971) was a children's book author and Russian literary scholar. She was already an established pedagogue before writing her first children's book in 1927, along with expanding literary studies and writings. She went silent after 1937 until 1960, and was only accepted into the Writer's Guild at the age of 78.… Read more about this item

Quarto 29x23 cm., wrappers, (8) pp. Sofia Fedorchenko (1888-1959) was the celebrated author of The People at War, which chronicled soldier's stories during the First and then civil war when she served repeatedly as a nurse. After 1924 she focused on children's books, and later in life historical works and fairy tales (skazki). Ivan Efimov (1878-1959) is widely known for… Read more about this item

Quarto 27x21.5 cm., wrappers, (16) pp. of lithographs. Evgenii Lvovich Shvarts (1896-1958) was an author, playwright, and screenwriter. He worked in Gozizdat under Samuil Marshak in the 1920s and contributed to Hedgehog (Ezh). After 1929 he joined the theater and soon film making, while continuing to create children's books. Aleksei Yefimov (1888-?) was employed by the Raduga publishing house, where… Read more about this item

Quarto 22.5x18 cm., wrappers, (10) pp. Lev Nikolaevich Zilov (1883-1937) began his writing career in 1903, was engaged in public education and authored poetry and over 50 children's books, although he was never admitted to the Writers Union. Died of natural causes in 1937. Aleksandra Sergeevna Soborova (1882-?) was a painter and graphic artist who illustrated a number of children's… Read more about this item

Quarto 29x22.5 cm., wrappers, 8pp. Lev Evgenievich Ostroumov (1892-1955) was a poet, translator, and children's book author. Ostroumov was initially a professor of Philology at Moscow University. He left for the life of a poet and authored 15 children's books in the 1920s. The work is illustrated by Pavel Georgievich Pastukhov (1889-1960), Russian and Soviet graphic artist and children's book… Read more about this item

Oblong quarto 32.5x25.5 cm., original wrappers, 20pp. The sumptuous, first edition of Pushkin's classic illustrated by Ivan Bilibin. that was reprinted in smaller formats numerous times. Each page and illustration is an original chromolithograph with metallic inks densely applied. This work is one of the major achievements of Ivan Iakovlevich Bilibin (1776-1942), illustrator and stage designer who was one of… Read more about this item

Quarto 29x22 cm., wrappers, 14pp. 1500 copies. This well-known tale to English readers is retold under the mastery of Kornei Chukovskii into a contemporary St. Petersburg with artwork by Viktor Zamirailo. This first edition found in six North American institutions. A fine copy.

Quarto 27.5x22 cm., wrappers, 16 pp. 5th printing. The story of a fly almost killed by a spider. Its' publication led to calls for banning the book, since many took the story as an allusion to the glorious leader Iosif Stalin, but the book was spared and continued to appear in different editions with some alterations. The present copy is… Read more about this item

Quarto 29.5x23 cm. stiff wrappers, 15 pp. Ivan Semenovich Efimov (1878-1969) was a sculptor, painter, set designer, and craftsman who founded the Soviet Puppet Theater with his wife Nina. Here employs silhouette drawing with color rendering in a charming folktale which the couple utilized in their puppet theater productions. OCLC locates three holdings in North America (NYPL, Univ NM, Univ… Read more about this item

Quarto 29.5x22.5 cm., original wrappers, (10) pp. Fifth printing. Illustrated with color lithographs by Vladimir Lebedev (1891-1967). Both Lebedev and Konashevich illustrated this work by Marshak; both are noteworthy in their own right. Both Lebedev and Samuil Marshak (1887-1964) collaborated in several works to reform the notion of children's books for the new Soviet readership who would rise to lead… Read more about this item

Large octavo 22.5x19 cm., wrappers, 16pp. Second printing. Author Lev Ostroumov (1892-1955) offers a set of poems for young readers about the train. Illustrations by Nina Simonova-Efimova (1877- 1948), artist and puppet designer. She is noted for reviving silhouette art in Russia, and especially her work in puppet theater and shadow theater. One copy found worldwide (LOC). Fine.

Quarto 24x19 cm., wrappers, (12) pp. Drawings by Vera Ivanovna Ivanova (1896-1948) was a children's book artist noted for a number of significant works. Author Vera Vasil'evna Smirnova (1898-1977) was a children's book author, literary critic and memoirist. The point of the book is to make friends with everyone, provided they aren't bourgeois. No copies held institutionally according to OCLC.… Read more about this item

Square octavo 21x19 cm. 12 pp. A children's introduction into printing, using cutouts. Konstantin Kuznetsov (1886-1943) was a prolific book illustrator, painter, animator, and printmaker; his work was exhibited widely in his lifetime and posthumously. OCLC locates three holdings in North America (Princeton, Getty, Wolfsonian). A near fine copy.

Octavo 19x15 cm., wrappers, (10) pp. Yakov Petrovich Meksin (1886-1943) was a Soviet children's book author, publisher, editor, and bookseller. Maksin was largely responsible for the overall direction of children's literature in the USSR under various bureaus until his arrest in 1938. The delightful cover design and book illustrations are by Vladimir Konashevich.(1888-1963) one of Russia's most celebrated children's book… Read more about this item

Quarto 26x19 cm., wrappers, (12) pp. Nadezhda Aleksandrovna Pavlovich (1895-1980) is known primarily for her poetry, but from 1925 to 1932 she authored a number of children's books. The present work is an exciting collaboration with Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927), renowned painter and stage designer who also was a book artist from 1905 who celebrated Russian life with great zest. A… Read more about this item

Oblong octavo 19x22cm., wrappers, (12) pp. A river's journey from stream to sea, with beautiful double-page renderings throughout. A picture book without words by Elena Vasil'evna Safonova (1902-1980) graphic artist and painter, who studied under Petrov-Vodkin and attended VKhUTEIN. She collaborated with Daniil Kharms and other OBDERIU poets, contributed to Ezh and Chizh magazines. Safonova was also a theater… Read more about this item